Cuddly couple aims for 1st prize

Former Wanganui girl Toni Hopkinson had a brand new 1.2kg friend to take around her old haunts at the weekend.

The Wanganui High School alumna was touring the region with Ted 1, or Jeff, as she has named him, as one of four Taranaki contestants in a big radio competition.

McDonald's "Live with Ted" based on the recent Ted movie starring Mark Wahlberg sees the competitors travelling everywhere with their giant bears while meeting people, completing challenges and performing tasks.

Ms Hopkinson said that, according the rules, they have to be inseparable.

"We don't have to sleep with them; we just can't leave the house without them."

The public send in texts to vote on the best bear/human couple to decide the winner.

Ms Hopkinson has done quite well in the challenges winning an "Amazing Race" around New Plymouth on Friday, so Saturday was a chance to "get him to meet the Wanganui peoples".

She and her support crew stopped at Trafalgar Square and Durie Hill for photos with landmarks and the public, as well as heading to Palmerston North and stopping in Waverley on their way back to Taranaki.

Ms Hopkinson has also managed to get her bear into aeroplanes, helicopters, buses and schools.

Live with Ted is organised by The Edge FM, McDonald's and Grab a Seat, with an official Facebook page for updates.

If Ms Hopkinson is the winner, she will get a free trip to Brisbane.