PADDINGTON is not the only travelling bear causing a bit of a stir, after Royal Wootton Bassett’s Ted set off on his own Great War-inspired adventure.

Ted, whose full name is Edward George Lefray, is a 50-year-old Lefray bear owned by local historian and author Sheridan Parsons, and has recently begun a long journey to some of the UK’s most famous historical sites.

He is also best friend to Sheridan’s nine-year-old son, Wilbur.

“Wilbur was learning about the First World War and I was trying to think about how to explain some of the things that happened and to keep him interested and engaged,” said Sheridan, who has recently published a 720-page book titled Wootton Bassett in the Great War, about the town’s involvement in the First World War.

“We had Ted and I thought it would be a way to keep people interested if Ted visited all sorts of historical sites and then tweeted about them and had pictures taken at the sites.

“The idea is that he gets posted on to people in the UK, not abroad, and they have to be places that stay open 24 hours so he doesn’t get lost in a sorting office.

“Then, whoever has him sends a postcard back to Wilbur on his behalf.

“He hasn’t been travelling for very long, only for a month or so, but he’s already got 176 followers on Twitter, which is great.

“A lot of the followers are other teddies and toys, which is fun. He also keeps a blog and that gets updated from wherever he visits.”

So far, Ted has visited the Swindon War Memorial, the Museum of London Docklands, Cheddar Gorge, North Weald, Bassett and Lacock, and also celebrated Remembrance Day at Noremarsh Infants School.

Sheridan said: “I did really set it up so he could learn about World War One sites, but he could visit anywhere of historical significance.

“It’s just a way of getting children interested in history and learning about it.

“Wilbur was very sad to see him go though and even more so when he realised he wouldn’t be coming back for a while. So we also have Ted’s cousin Arthur, and Arthur is living at home with Wilbur and visits historical sites with him.”

For more information about Ted, to follow his adventures or to offer to host him yourself, visit www.wherested.today or follow him on Twitter at @WheresTedToday.