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Pingu starred in a revised climate awareness change awareness event at an Epsom shopping centre on Saturday (June 29).

The penguin from the hit children's television series, which ran from 1986-2006, appeared at The Ashley Centre, Ashley Avenue, in a Preserve Our Penguins day which aimed to explain how the environment of the birds is changing.

The shopping centre changes its plans after it attracted criticism for its decision to have live Humboldt Penguins present for the day.

Shoppers and animal welfare charity, Born Free, heavily criticised the centre of deciding to have the live animals before applauding its u-turn.

Free craft workshops and activity sheets were available on the day while the centre said shoppers made "generous donations into the collection boxes for the charity WWF".

Manager David Beddows said: “We put on events like this because The Ashley Centre is committed to bringing awareness to the local community about topics close to their hearts such as global warming, the benefits of recycling and the dangers to nature in the wild.”

Fact sheets for children included games and climate change facts such as what can be done about it, endangered animals and Humboldt Penguins.

A spokesman added: "The conservation message was still as strong and Pingu proved to be very popular.

"The Ashley Centre is planning many more free events on a variety of subjects over the coming month."