SINGING teddy bears, a teddy DJ, a bouncy castle and VIP bears Rupert and Paddington greeted a huge crowd of picnic-ers who visited Broomfield Park yesterday.

Children, their parents and friends enjoyed a free fun event in the brilliant sunshine on Aldermans Hill, Palmers Green.

The Teddy Bear's Picnic was organised by the council and seemed to be very popular with everyone who turned up.

Mother Suba Matiesh, 34, of Ashgrove, Palmers Green, said her two children were having a brilliant time.

She praised the stage show even if she said was too busy looking after her two-year-old son Sanju to watch it.

"Whatever it was it was keeping my seven year old Mirdhula occupied, she said. "It was brilliant. We wish it was on more often. They've really enjoyed it."

Mirdhula, seven, who came along with her bear Hug Me, added: "The Crazy Bear show was fantastic, it was really good to participate in different parts of the stories."

The family was visiting with Mirdhula's best friend Murti, whose bear Pheonix also attended.

"The park is nice and I like being with my friends and it's really fun because they've got the show Crazy Bears and face painting and I can run and roll down the hill."

Murti's mother, her brother, and her grandmother, Vrmila Tailor, 70, of Leighhunt Road, Southgate were also there.

She said: "It's good for the children, they can run around and they don't have to worry."

Teacher Caroline Lau, 28, from Fox Lane, Palmers Green came with daughter Mei, who is ten and-a-half months, as well as three friends and their children.

"It's a really nice event that's really brought everyone together," she said. "People in Palmers Green have been talking about it for the past couple of weeks.

"Mei really liked to see the other children running around, she was really interested in seeing what was going on on the stage too."

Father of three-and-a-half year old Thomas, Martin Brooking, said his son was also interested in the Crazy Bears show, even if close up their giant teddy heads scared him.

Mr Brooking, 37, a paramedic, of Tynemouth Drive, Enfield, who was in the park with partner Mandy, said it had been a well organised event. His only criticism was that so many people turned up the queues were too long.