Canterbury Cathedral has welcomed thousands of high profile international guests over the years... and now it will welcome a polar bear.

The unusual robotic visitor will spend a day exploring the World Heritage Site later this month.

Named Paula, the life-size polar bear - who has already got a taste of Kent since beginning a five-week tour in Margate - will be meeting other Cathedral visitors.

Archdeacon of Canterbury Jo Kelly-Moore said: “We’re so excited to have Paula visit us for the day and give her a tour of the Cathedral. We have thousands of visitors from all over the world, but we’re fairly sure a polar bear is a first for us."

The popular bear is part of a Greenpeace environmental awareness project.

Danielle Sharma, from the Turner Contemporary, added: “Paula is already opening up important discussions in Margate about climate change and has captured the imaginations of thousands of visitors.

"This project could not have been realised without the backing of all 292 donors who supported our crowdfunding campaign, and we’re so grateful to Canterbury Cathedral for working with us to extend the project’s reach.”

Anyone wanting to see the bear will need to visit the Cathedral between 11am and 1pm on Wednesday, August 22. Normal entry fees will apply.