Football mascots and much loved children’s television characters were star guests at a Teddy Bear’s picnic organised in memory of a four-year-old who died earlier this summer.

Ollie Lovis, from Epsom, died on July 12 from cancer which had first attacked the base of his skull and then, despite treatment, spread to his spine, hips and legs.

Your Local Guardian:

L-R Ella McRobb, Chloe and Ellie Hill and Emma Muncey.

A Torquay United fan, Ollie was invited to act as a football mascot during a League Two fixture between AFC Wimbledon and The Gulls two years ago and struck up a close friendship with AFC Wimbledon mascot Haydon the Womble.

Your Local Guardian:

L-R Sheila Lemon, Kelly and Dean Parsons (as Haydon) with children Emily and Charlotte Parsons.

Organised in aid of children’s cancer charity Momentum, based in Kingston, the event raised more than £2,000.

More than 300 people and characters including Haydon, Crystal Palace mascots Alice and Pete the Eagles, Frozen’s Olaf and Elsa, and Bob the Builder, packed into King George V playing field, Poole Road, Ewell.

Mum Terri Lovis said: "It was lovely to see so many people coming out to have fun and raise money in Ollie’s memory."

The youngster's cancer was first diagnosed in 2013, and the family travelled to America so Ollie could have Proton Therapy. However late last year the family was told the cancer had returned and Ollie had only months to live.

Haydon, aka Dean Parsons, who lives in Morden, organised a number of fund-raising events and visited Ollie at Epsom Hospital last Christmas and alongside his wife Kelly, was behind the picnic on Sunday.

Mr Parsons said: "He fell in love with Haydon and Haydon fell in love with him. "Everyone who met Ollie could see how brave he was he was just a really lovely boy. I stayed in touch to find out how he was going.

"When it came to the news the treatment wasn't successful so many people responded to offer help and give presents that we had one for every child in the ward which was amazing."

Momentum director Bianca Effemey said: "It was a fantastic event, a lot of fun for everyone involved and we are thrilled with the amount that was raised.

"Events like this mean that Momentum can continue to support children with cancer and life-limiting illnesses in the Epsom area."