IT was one small step for teddies, one giant leap for Alcester's bearkind when soft toys were sent parachuting from St Nicholas’ Church.

More than 100 teddies and 300 people helped raise £700 for St Nicholas' Church Restoration Fund through the event held on bank holiday Monday, May 2.

A team of volunteers worked to create and fix parachutes to the teddies and new for this year, there was a zip wire plane for teddies 'too scared to do the parachute jump'.

Steven Brown, from the restoration fund committee, said: "We did think we would face cancellation but we decided to continue and I am glad we did because we had such a good turnout despite the weather.

"The amazing thing was watching people starting up to the top of the tower to watch the teddies - only in Alcester."

Recently, an urgent appeal to restore St Nicholas’ Church was launched after an architect found stonework on all four external walls and its tower were in need of restoration, costing at least £200,000.

So far more than £20,000 has been raised towards the refurbishment costs.