One of the nation's most treasured characters has made his appearance in Bury St Edmunds town centre as part of a national trail ahead of a new film. 

Paddington Bear statues have been put place in various locations across the UK and Ireland to mark Paddington In Peru hitting cinema screens on November 8. 

One of these marmalade-loving creations can now be found in the arc shopping centre after it was revealed by Bury St Edmunds mayor Diane Hind on Tuesday. 

The ceremony was also attended by Allan Hassell, arc centre manager, and Mark Cordell, CEO of Our Bury St Edmunds BID. 

Diane Hind unveiling the statueDiane Hind unveiling the statue (Image: Lucy Taylor) Following the unveiling, Mark Cordell, of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: "Bury St Edmunds already has a great reputation for delivering and hosting trails in our town centre so we are absolutely delighted that we were chosen to be part of the national Paddington Visits trail.

"Paddington is located within the arc shopping centre and will be watching the world go by and I am sure would welcome people sitting next to him and having their photos taken with him.

"Having such a high profile visitor will, I am sure, attract people to our town centre, who will want to see him in situ. His presence is yet another feather in the hat of Bury St Edmunds." 

The new film, Paddington in Peru, will see the nation's favourite bear return home to the Peruvian jungle to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, now a resident at the Home for Retired Bears, tackling the Amazon rainforest and Peruvian mountain peaks along the way.

Paddington in Peru will be released on November 8.