Paddington statue moved to castle 'so more families can enjoy him'

A Paddington statue has been moved from a determination wherever it spent astir of the time locked up.

The statue, which arrived successful Cardiff to beforehand the latest Paddington film, was initially erected astatine St John's gardens successful the metropolis centre.

The country is unfastened from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and closed each time connected Sunday.

Some radical had wanted the statue's hours to beryllium extended and concern improvement work FOR Cardiff opened the gardens for an other time owed to its popularity.

FOR Cardiff posted connected Facebook that it was moving with Cardiff Council "to research the anticipation of uncovering him a caller location portion he's successful Cardiff".

A Cardiff Council spokesperson said they were "pleased" to person worked with FOR Cardiff and Studio Canal "to find Paddington a caller location astatine Cardiff Castle for the duration of his sojourn to Cardiff".

"The castle grounds are escaped to entree and unfastened 7 days a week, meaning adjacent much families tin bask visiting him," they added.

"Full opening hours tin beryllium recovered connected the Cardiff Castle website."

Dozens of radical visited the statue connected Wednesday, including Katie Wise, who was visiting the UK from California.

She said the quality was "very beloved" to her arsenic she had her ain 44-year-old Paddington carnivore toy.

"I bought my Paddington carnivore erstwhile my lad was calved and I placed my lad adjacent to my Paddington carnivore and helium was smaller than the bear," she told Sky News.

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Noku Nikisi who lives successful Cardiff said it was "pretty cool" to spot the fictional carnivore up close.

"I'd seen connected TikTok that helium was successful the gardens by the cemetery," helium added.

"It's decidedly a amended determination for it [at the castle] due to the fact that you've evidently got Winter Wonderland successful here."