A soft toy created by a renowned Beer artist is causing a ‘sensation’ within the classrooms of Tanzania.

Andrew Coates sent 60 of his Bush Babies creations to the Joy School to be handed out as rewards to hard-working pupils.

The New Road resident teamed up with Sue and Steve Scorer to help the couple with their campaign to improve education within the country.

The Bush Babies were handed out last week to the top of each class and the most improved pupil, following the school’s mid-year tests.

Andrew said: “It was just a lovely surprise that the children had them in their hands so quickly. It’s great to know you can do something small to brighten up these children’s lives.”

Andrew spent more than two decades creating the toy, which can be manipulated to move its eyes and ears - a first for the industry.

Sue said that the Bush Babies will be an incentive to the pupils, as some of them have never seen a toy in their life.

The couple have campaigned to stop teachers beating children by instead rewarding them when they do well.

Sue said: “They caused quite a sensation - the children could not understand how the eyes and ears could move like they do.

“It could be a good physics lesson in the making.

“The aim is to now give them maybe once a month for various effort and achievement, so that different children win them.

“One poor little girl from the pre-school class was in tears as she didn’t get one.”