A COLOURFUL afternoon is planned for the first ever zip-wire trials for teddy bears in Worcestershire.

The event, at Pershore Abbey tower, will see children from Abbey Park First School bringing their teddies to test the facilities for another big day in August.

Last year the teddy bear parachute jumps were blown away by the breeze, much to the disappointment of many of the 14,000 visitors to the Plum Fayre in Pershore.

So the teddy team has devised this weather-proof zip wire idea to add spectacle to the day and raise funds for the Abbey - but it needs testing. Parachuting for teddies will also be held at the Plum Fayre, but inside the tower.

The high-wire trials will take place at 2.45pm on Tuesday, July 10, outside the Abbey tower, in preparation for the Plum Fayre on Monday, August 27.

A cord will be run from the top of the tower, over 100ft (35m) high, and run down to a small booth in the park. The teddies will check in at the booth and be clipped to a coloured streamer for recognition.

Stewards will take some 50 teddies up the tower for the 200ft (70m) big slide.

After a loud count-down from the children, the teddies in groups of 10 will fly to earth with streamers flying.