Nursing staff were on hand at the Paediatric Department of Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, to take delivery of a batch of teddy bears.

The stuffed toys were donated by the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) scheme which was introduced in Cambridgeshire  20 years ago.

Since that time, more than 34,000 teddies have been donated to hospitals in Cambridge, Ely, Doddington and Wisbech.

The scheme is funded by Freemasons from lodges across Cambridgeshire. There are 47 regional TLC programmes that provide teddies for their local A&E departments.

Since its inception in 2001, 3.5 million have been distributed to hospitals throughout England and Wales.

Tony Barrios, who coordinates the scheme on behalf of Cambridgeshire’s Freemasons said: “TLC is a wonderful initiative and one that is greatly appreciated by our participating hospitals and the children who receive the teddies.

"I am incredibly proud of the generosity of our members who fund this scheme because they recognise its importance."

The Masonic Province of Cambridgeshire has centres in Cambridge, Ely, Newmarket, March, Chatteris, Whittlesey and Wisbech.

More information at: www.cambridgeshirefreemasons.org.uk/