STOURPORT Rotary Club had an unusual visitor stop off for lunch on his way to the International Rotary Convention in Sydney.

Wrigley Bear, a stuffed toy being used as a mascot for the End Polio Now campaign, was brought to Stourport by assistant district governor Peter Roberts.

The Rotary movement plans to send 29 bears to the convention in Sydney by June 1 to raise awareness of the End Polio Now campaign, initiated by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Bill Gates Foundation and Rotary International in 1985.

Stourport Rotary Club acting president Don Giles said: "Peter gave the most recent figures of polio stating the India is now completely polio free, Nigeria has one case, Afghanistan has three cases and Pakistan 24.

"All countries are expected to meet the original target of complete elimination in 2018, which actually means 2016 because elimination can only be assured if the are no cases for two years. This is a truly magnificent result and gratifies the clubs that have raised funds over the years."

The visiting bear is representing district 1060, which comprises Birmingham, parts of the Black Country and north Worcestershire clubs.

There are prizes for the bear that visits the most Rotary clubs and the bear that has the most money pledged for the campaign.

For more information visit the Wrigley Bear - Rotary End Polio Now Teddy Bear Challenge facebook page.