Is your teddy acting strangely? Has he been distant or quiet lately, staring into space or avoiding your eye? He may be hiding something...
Lewisham Council has been picking up internet chatter suggesting that a cell of Lewisham-based bears is arranging a rave-up or 'picnic' to celebrate Bookstart Day at Catford Library on 4 October.
Experts, including the Cabinet Member for Community Services, Chris Best, have received information that furry clandestine groups are bent on getting involved in a prolonged singing and storytelling session.
Although Library staff have made it clear that teddy parties are always good-humoured, residents are being urged to accompany their bears to the event, starting at 11am.
Chris Best said: 'The teddy bears' picnic will be great fun and is another example of how Lewisham's libraries are instilling a love of books in the borough's youngest residents. Bookstart is a fantastic scheme whereby every child in the borough receives a pack of books to read with their carers.'
The self-styled Bookstart Massive have craftily arranged the event on the 4th, two day's before National Bookstart day on the 6th, to confuse library staff and maximise media exposure.
National Bookstart Day is an annual event celebrating the importance of sharing books with children from an early age.
Bookstart Aims to help every child in the UK to develop a lifelong love of books, and this year's programme aims to give parents and children the chance to discover the joy of reading together.
The Bookstart scheme, co-ordinated by libraries and supported by health visitors and early years professionals, gives free packs of books to children aged eight months, eighteen months and three years.
The scheme is funded through commercial sponsors, charitable trusts, government departments and SureStart.