PADDINGTON Bear had a day out from London to entertain children at the Steam Museum as part of Swindon's Litfest.

Peru's most famous export brought his marmalade sandwiches along for the youngsters as he judged a best dressed bear competition and listened to stories read by is great friend Mr Brown.

Paddington, one of the world's favourite children's book characters, met children on the museum's station platform and proved a big hit.

Anna Valentine, five, from Old Town, said: "I really enjoyed meeting Paddington. I shook his hand and he gave me a hug.

"He was big and very friendly."

The event attracted families from all over the country.

Ruth Allen, five, from Canterbury said: "It was great fun and I liked listening to the stories."

The event was also linked to National Museums and Galleries Month, which aims to put local museums in the spotlight.

As well as playing host to Paddington Bear, the museum was also the venue for the Swindon Festival of Literature's children's workshops.

Cheltenham-based poet Sara-Jane Arbury held two writing workshops for youngsters and the Internet Vet Tony De Saulles hosted a hands-on writing and drawing workshop.

Festival organiser Matt Holland said: "There is something going on in Swindon because it isn't just our big name events that have proved a hit but also our workshops, for young people and adults.

"All of our workshops today were oversubscribed. There are people in Swindon who want to come and write and I think it's amazing that on a lovely sunny day like today, when children aren't even in school, they want to come and write.

"The festival is not only about the big names, it is about inspiring children to write. We hope they will enjoy it but subtly it is also about education and it is wonderful they are so keen."

Sara-Jane Arbury's first workshop turned little angels into monsters by asking the children if they were a monster, what kind of a monster would it be.

She said: "Children are often called little monsters so we had a lot of fun with monsters and they all left with monster masks.

"In my second workshop for older children I wanted them to use words as magic wands and bring inanimate objects to life, so we were writing poems about how a moody mobile phone might feel or a happy knife and fork.

"I write poems for adults but I really enjoy these workshops for children because it encourages them to write."