Cheeky bear and monkey duo keep youngsters smiling in lockdown

Mum Penny Sowden sets up daily scenes of Calverley's most cheeky bear and monkey duo each day to cheer up her own children as well as local youngsters in lockdown.

The pair have been hard at work making scrubs for the NHS, scoffing Easter eggs, taking a tea break and just hanging out in the trees as part of their daily activities.

Penny, who was inspired by another family in Heaton Moor setting up funny bear scenes, told the Telegraph & Argus: "I saw a photo on Facebook of a couple who were setting their bears up to do activities. Then a local Facebook group requested that people placed bears in their windows so children within the village could go on a bear hunt as part of their daily exercise. I thought my idea would help keep the local community entertained at a difficult time.

"The bear & monkey seem to spark joy in young & old. It’s great to hear the happy excited voices of the children as they come to visit the duo. We have a lot of adults visiting the bear & monkey, they like to take pictures & send them to family & friends who live outside the village.

"We put the pair out every morning, each day brings a new activity for the community to visit. Every evening the activity is cleared away to make space for the following day.

"I tend to look at the everyday objects we all having in our homes & garages & see what sparks my imagination. I also take inspiration from what is going on around the UK, such as the key workers. Key workers created the monkey & bear in the traditional style dustbins with the 'Thank You Key Workers' message, we put this activity out when the bins were due to be emptied.

"People sewing scrubs & face masks for the NHS helped us to create our “Sewing Scrubs” day."

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