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'Teddy Bear Toss' causes delay to kick-off of match in Belgium

Belgian fans held up a league game at the weekend with a pitch invasion that was all in a good cause.

For the second successive season, Charleroi's 'Storm Ultras 2001' supporters group enjoyed a "Nounours Party" ("Teddy Bear Party"), hurling hundreds of cuddly toys on the pitch just before Friday's 1-1 draw with Ostende.

The toys, which caused kick-off to be delayed a few minutes while they were cleared, will be distributed to underprivileged children in the Belgian city.

The goodwill holiday gesture follows the tradition of the "Teddy Bear Toss" popular at the ice hockey rinks of North America where fans throw cuddly toys onto the rink.