A new Paddington Bear statue has been unveiled in Reading’s Broad Street to celebrate the new film Paddington in Peru. 

The children's character has a special connection to the town, as Reading is where Paddington's creator went to school and started his working life. 

Michael Bond, who died in June 2017, came up with the idea of a children's story about a refugee bear from Peru - who loves marmalade sandwiches - in 1958. 

Seeing child evacuees wearing identification labels around their necks and carrying small suitcases as they arrived at Reading Station during the Second World War, Bond was inspired to make Paddington a refugee character. 

Describing further inspiration from his time working at the BBC in Caversham Park, the children's author had said: "At that time Caversham Park was staffed almost entirely by refugees: Russian and Polish people and different nationalities.

"My Paddington Bear books also had a character who was a Hungarian refugee - Mr Gruber.”

While working as a BBC Engineer’s Assistant on the roof of a building in Reading’s Town Hall Square, the author witnessed a German bombing raid blow up the building in 1943.

Now 23 towns across the UK are welcoming statues of Paddington as part of the 'Paddington Visits Trail' to celebrate the upcoming StudioCanal film, Paddington in Peru.

This unveiling is one of 23 Paddington statues placed across the UK and Ireland from John O’Groats to Land’s End.This unveiling is one of 23 Paddington statues placed across the UK and Ireland from John O’Groats to Land’s End. (Image: NQ)

In this new adventure, Paddington returns to the Peruvian jungle to visit his Aunt Lucy, now residing at the Home for Retired Bears.

The Brown Family and Mrs Bird join him, and a mysterious disappearance leads them on an unexpected journey from the Amazon rainforest to the mountain peaks of Peru.

Alexa Volker, Reading BID Manager, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our very own Paddington to Reading town centre.

"The new statue will be an exciting addition to Broad Street and will undoubtedly draw visitors and families from across the wider region who’ll be able to sit down, have a chat and even take a selfie with everyone’s favourite marmalade loving bear."

The new Paddington Bear statue is located on a bench in Broad Street outside Waterstones.

 Another statue of Paddington has been placed in Northbrook Street in Newbury.