A ‘GINORMOUS teddy bears’ picnic’ is back for a second year.

The fundraising event is a bid to raise cash for Southampton general hospital’s new children’s A&E.

Run by actors James Murray and Sarah Parish it will see hundreds of picnics take place across June, with communities encouraged to organise their own events.

The Murray Parish Trust are now over halfway to reaching their £2million target to help build a brand-new state of the art children’s emergency and trauma department at University Hospital Southampton.

Now invitations have been sent to every primary school in Hampshire and Southampton asking children to get involved and give support to a critical cause.

This year pre-school children at after-school clubs and Brownies and Beaver Scouts are also joining in the fun.

The campaign is supported by stars of stage and screen including Hugh Bonneville, Amanda Holden and Tamzin Outhwaite who feature in an all-stars celebrity music video of the Teddy Bears Picnic.

The Ginormous Teddy Bears Picnic will also be sponsored by law firm Trethowans for the second year running.

“We are happy to be able to continue to support the The Murray Parish Trust’s Teddy Bears Picnic again this year.

“This event helps to raise funds to improve the emergency and intensive paediatric care provided by Southampton Hospital which looks after children from across the south of England. We are really pleased to be involved in helping this truly worthwhile cause,” said managing partner Chris Whiteley.

Sarah Parish, founder of The Murray Parish Trust said “We are so excited about the second year of The Ginormous Teddy Bears Picnic after last year’s success. It’s such a fun, inclusive and positive event for all involved – roll on June.”

It’s free to participate with a suggested donation of £1 a child. Participants are encouraged to be creative and share ideas. For fundraising packs email picnic@themurrayparishtrust.com