Return of Winnie the Pooh

BELOVED children's character Winnie the Pooh is set to return to bookshelves this year - more than 80 years after his first adventure.

The fictional bear, which has his roots in Ashdown Forest, will make his comeback in Return to Hundred Acre Wood.

This will be the first authorised sequel to Alan Alexander Milne's 1920s stories.

Readers may have feared the worst for Pooh following the author's death in 1956.

But with the words of David Benedictus and the illustration of Mark Burgess, the book is expected to be available on October 5 this year.

Michael Brown, of the Trustees of the Pooh Properties, said last week: "The original books were one of the greatest celebrations of childhood in any language, but we believe that David Benedictus and Mark Burgess have captured the spirit and quality of those original books.

"We hope the many millions of Pooh enthusiasts and readers around the world will embrace and cherish these new stories as if they had just emerged from the pen of A A Milne himself."

People young and old flock to Ashdown Forest very year, to play the game 'Pooh Sticks' from the top of so-called Pooh Bridge.

Mr Benedictus has previously adapted and produced audio adaptations of Winnie the Pooh, starring Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Jane Horrocks.