MORE than 20 teddy bears made a bold leap for CLIC into Action and parachuted from the church tower in Chelsworth.The sponsored teddy bear parachute jump collected nearly £800 to help children suffering from cancer and leukaemia in East Anglia.

MORE than 20 teddy bears made a bold leap for CLIC into Action and parachuted from the church tower in Chelsworth.

The sponsored teddy bear parachute jump collected nearly £800 to help children suffering from cancer and leukaemia in East Anglia.

The extreme teddysport event saw only one serious casualty, when one panda bear landed in the guttering on the church roof, which prompted a rescue attempt with a metal coat hangar and fishing rod.

Owner Jordan Richards, three, of Chelsworth, shed a few tears in an emotional reunion with his brave toy.

For those who made it to the ground, the teddymedics were on hand to wrap paws and bandage legs, and a first aid tent, where children carried their bears on teddy stretchers for immediate medical attention.

Twenty-two bears made the jump, varying from miniature teds to giant bears, assisted by a range of parachutes from plastic bags to silk headscarves. They were hauled up the tower in a pillowcase tied to a length of rope.

A cake sale and raffle at the Peacock Inn also contributed to CLIC into Action.

Alison Russell, a churchwarden at All Saints, Chelsworth, who was behind the quirky fundraising idea, said: "Everyone entered into the spirit of it. We were very lucky that the wind was in the right direction, otherwise there could have been more casualties."

The EADT campaign aims to raise £50,000 for Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood (CLIC) to help provide a children's cancer and leukaemia nurse and a play specialist in East Anglia.

Donations can also be made by credit of debit card to the CLIC into Action donation line on (0800) 1383810 or by cheque, payable to CLIC into Action and sent direct to CLIC, 8 Wren Close, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP313TQ or to any of the East Anglian Daily Times Offices.

Cheques can also be paid direct into any branch of Lloyds TSB, quoting CLIC into Action, sort code 30-00-01, account number 02693685.

Donations can also be made via the CLIC website at www.clic.uk.com/donfr.htm quoting ref. CIA.

We are also asking for disused ink and printer cartridges to be deposited for CLIC into Action using special boxes located in EADT offices.

The CLIC registered charity number is 802396.