VISITORS to Ramsbottom got a "big surprise" when they went into town on Bank Holiday Monday (Aug 26). For it is was the day of the teddy's bears' picnic!
The beautiful summer weather drew out the families by their dozen for the annual festival in Nuttall Park organised by the East Lancashire Railway.
Every child accompanied by a teddy was given a free ride on the steam train before they enjoyed a picnic and took part in various activities and competition.
And pictured with his Winnie the Pooh "passenger" is Guy Liston (7), from Whitefield, as Eric Allen, ELR platform supervisor, looks on.
Graham Vevers, marketing director of the ELR said: "Thanks to the good weather the event was very popular drawing in people from all over the north west including Liverpool and Yorkshire.
"We have been organising the Teddy Bears' Picnic since 1988 to promote the town of Ramsbottom and the ELR."
From this weekend the East Lancashire Railway will again be stopping at Irwell Vale.
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