PENGUIN fans across the district will have the chance to have an extra guest for Christmas lunch with a new competition launched by Deafblind UK this week. The person who is closest to guessing the weight of the 4ft plush Pingu, pictured, will be able to

PENGUIN fans across the district will have the chance to have an extra guest for Christmas lunch with a new competition launched by Deafblind UK this week.

The person who is closest to guessing the weight of the 4ft plush Pingu, pictured, will be able to take him home, and a second prize-winner will win a talking Pingu.

He is the only stuffed Pingu toy of his kind in the country.

The fluffy character will be at the Twentypence Garden Centre, Wilburton, every Saturday until December 16, but The Great Weigh-in can also be entered in Ely on Friday, December 1, when Ely's Christmas lights are switched on.

Keyrings featuring Pingu and his sister Pinga will also be available to raise money for Deafblind UK.

Regional fund-raiser Nicky Jackson said: "Christmas is often a very lonely time for people who have a dual sensory impairment and we are hoping that the money raised by Pingu will enable us to provide more communicator guide hours to more deafblind people to enable them to enjoy Christmas as we all do."

She said it is estimated that in East Cambridgeshire there are 1,473 people with a dual sensory impairment - with 685 dual sensory impairment people living in Ely.

Each entry to the competition will cost £1 and all proceeds will go towards funding the vital services Deafblind UK provide to local people.

The money raised will help fund the vital services, support and care that Deafblind UK provides to deafblind people living in East Cambridgeshire.

INFO: If you would like to find out more about Pingu please call Nicky Jackson on 07950036559 358100 or www.deafblind.org.uk for more information.