Teddy bears came out to play across Wiltshire last week, as schools, clubs and companies took part in Ted’s Big Day Out appeal.

The campaign was raising money for the new cancer care unit at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, and encouraged children and adults alike to take their teddies out with them for the day.

The event takes place annually, with this year’s day dubbed Fluorescent Friday, as participants were asked to wear their brightest neon-coloured clothes.

Wiltshire School of Gymnastics took part in the appeal, with the children from the pre-school groups getting involved in a week-long fundraising drive which raised £356.38.

Pre-school co-ordinator Jacqui Upton said: “All the kids came in dressed up. The older ones did the fluorescent bits and the younger ones brought their teddies.”

Staff at Specsavers in Melksham also got into the charity spirit, dressing up for the day and charging 50p a go for a ‘guess the sweets in the jar’ competition, which raised £25.65.

The activities were organised by optical assistant Charlotte Bloomfield. She said: “we all wore lots of fluorescent nail varnish, and one of the girls, Trudy Nash wore leggings and a tutu all day.

“Everybody noticed how we were dressed, and there were a lot of comments about how brightly we all looked.”

Ms Ashton said: “We just wanted to help the hospital. It’s such a good cause, and we all know somebody who’s suffered from cancer.”

A cake sale was also held at Crockerton CE Primary School in Warminster, with pupils wearing fluorescent-coloured non-uniform, which raised over £170.

The event was held as part of the Forever Friends appeal, to raise £5 million in four years for a state-of-the-art cancer care centre at the RUH, which will feature modern facilities for cancer patients, as well as overnight accommodation for their families.