Calling all bear lovers - it's the last day or so of Brereton Bear Festival which draws to a close tomorrow (Sunday 31st August).

Entries have been coming in thick and fast for the popular fundraising celebration and you have until tomorrow (Sunday) to get your entries in.

We take a look at the woman behind it and the link between bears and Brereton according to legend.

It's the twelfth annual Brereton Bear Festival near Sandbach, raising money for the village's St Oswald's Church in Brereton.

And behind it all is one of the main organisers, retired primary teacher, Helen Edge, who celebrated her 80th birthday this year and will be taking a step back from being the main organiser at the next festival.

"Lots of villages have scarecrow festivals but we wanted to do something different and we do have links with bears. I'm known affectionately as 'Mrs Bear' locally. Everyone knows how much I love bears!

"I used to read so many bear themed books to my children at school when I taught. It's a fun festival and people enjoy getting ready for it and making their entries."

Legend has it that Sir William Brereton of Brereton Hall went to the King to seek a pardon for something he had done and the King gave him the chance to redeem himself by making a muzzle to stop a ferocious bear.

The entry at The Bear's Head pub in the village. (Photo: Nub News)

His muzzle worked and he incorporated a muzzled bear on his coat of arms as a crest something which still stands today - a muzzled bear is in Brereton's crest which can be seen in St Oswald's Church.

The event is held every second year and this year, has 137 entries. Organisers run a bear hunt with programmes costing £7 available from the Bear's Head pub in Brereton and Pear Tree Farm Shop in Newcastle Road North, Brereton.

The bear festival began on July 12th and runs until August 31st. Bear hunters have until September 1st to get their entries in.

"Whether on foot or in a vehicle take care at all times when hunting bears and for your own safety and for the safety of others," say organisers.

Bear hunters are also asked to vote for displays in four categories - most humorous bear, best-craft bear, favourite bear and the best dressed shop-bought teddy.

Further details about Brereton Bear Festival can be found on their Facebook page here

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