Paddington author dies

MICHAEL Bond, the creator of children’s literary character Paddington Bear, has died at home in the UK, aged 91, following a short illness.

He was inspired to create Paddington after seeing a teddy bear in a shop window on his way home from work in 1956.

First appearing in the 1958 story A Bear Called Paddington, the character was named after the London railway station where he was found.

Paddington stories have been enjoyed by generations of children, with more than 35 million books sold.