Proud father, Big Ted, was at Chippenham train station on Monday to greet some of his charity NICU bears.

Hundreds of bears stopped off on their way to the Royal United Hospital in Bath on Monday, where they will be used to raise money through Ted's Big Day Out.

The Forever Friends Appeal is set to take place on October 12 and will raise money for a newneo-natal intensive care ward in Bath.

Ted's Big Day out is an annual event organised to get people involved in fund raising for the Royal United Hospital by taking their own teddies or other soft toys to work with them.

Last year money was raised for the CT Scanner campaign and this year attention has been turned to the Space To Grow campaign.

The campaign, being backed by the Gazette, aims to raise £4.5 million to build a new, spacious and sustainable neonatal intensive care unit.

The current NICU is struggling to cope with the size and quantity of the latest technology that helps these tiny babies survive.

Jo Hones, events and community officer for the Forever Friends Appeal, said: "This is your first chance to support the campaign in a major way.

"Please let your imagination run riot and release the child in you.

"We are urging companies, groups, schools and individuals to come together and help.

"The appeal's goal is to commence the new building of the new NICU within the next two years."

For more information on how to join in with Ted's Big Day Out! 2007, visit www.tedsbigdayout.co.uk or call Ted's Hotline on (01225) 825825.

The limited edition NICU bears reflect the campaign's logo of a brown bear with a set of building bricks spelling out NICU.

The little bears come complete with a nappy and named packaging.

NiCU Bears are £6.99 from The Forever Friends Appeal office on (01225) 825691 or e-mail forever.friends@ruh-bath.swest.nhs.uk.