Parachutes not picnics for teddies on Cathedral Green

Hundreds of teddy bears swallowed their fears and went 100ft up in the air on a cherrypicker to do a sponsored parachute jump for charity on Cathedral Green this afternoon.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Exeter and sponsored by Burgoynes Estate Agents, the toys were jumping in aid of the children's ward, Bramble, at the RD&E, as well as fundraising for the cathedral's Third Millennium campaign.

The event was compered by Radio Exe, who announced every bear - as well as its nervous owner below - before they jumped, while the Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service provided their 100ft aerial hydraulic platform ‘The Vema’ from which the fire crew dropped the teddy bears.

Teddy Medics were on hand to make sure there were no injuries to the jumpers, although the fire crew did have to get their ladder out to effect a rescue after a gust of wind caught Cinderella and trapped her on the cathedral's scaffolding. There was also a loud bang when Buster crash-landed on the Radio Exe car.

Happily, no damage was done and every successful jumper was awarded a bravery certificate.