Calling all talented little animals – TOMY is looking for a Raa Raa Star

Does your little one love showing off for the camera? Forever making lots of noise and getting lots of attention? They might be just what TOMY is looking for in the amazing ‘Search for a Raa Raa Star’ competition.

Launched in The Sun this week, TOMY is looking for six little Raa Raa Stars to appear in the TV adverts for the brand new Raa Raa the Noisy Lion toys, based on the hit CBeebies show. This is an opportunity not to be missed for fans of Raa Raa and his friends in the Jingly Jangly Jungle!

Anyone wanting to get involved with the Jingly Jangly Fun simply needs to send a video clip of their little star making their best jungle animal noise and send it to TOMY at video@raaraastar.co.uk with the subject heading ‘Raa Raa Star’, or post the clip to: Raa Raa Star, Prism Entertainment, Euston Tower, 33rd Floor, 286 Euston Road, London , NW1 3DP. All entries must reach TOMY on or before 20 December 2011, and make sure you include your child’s name, age, address and your contact details.

A judging panel, including Raa Raa narrator Lorraine Kelly, will then choose 10 finalists who will be called to an audition at TOMY HQ. Here they will have chance to look around TOMY’s toy showroom and take home a full set of incredible, interactive Raa Raa toys.

Six winning tots will then spend an exciting day at a London studio filming three Raa Raa toy adverts. The final cut will be unveiled by Lorraine Kelly at Toy Fair, London Olympia on 24 January 2012, with the lucky winners invited along to meet Lorraine and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion himself!

For more info, check out thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/parenting/3965535/Could-your-child-be-a-telly-star.html or www.raaraathenoisylion.com/news.

Flying at Heathrow this Christmas

FAMILY-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES AT HEATHROW GET FESTIVE SEASON OFF TO A FLYING START

The Christmas holiday is a busy time for families at Heathrow, with more than 3.5 million passengers passing through between 15 December and 3 January alone, so the UK's biggest international airport has put in place a number of initiatives to provide a helping hand and make every journey better for families this festive season.

• Heathrow will ensure passengers have one less thing to think about by handing out 15,000 Christmas cards with free postage to anywhere in the world in early December. An e-card version will also be available at www.heathrowairport.com/holiday

• Family car parking bays have been introduced into all Long Stay car parks and will be in all Short Stay by 16 December. The clearly marked and signposted bays are extra-wide and within close proximity to the bus stops and customer service offices within each car park

• Security will be made less intimidating for younger passengers with child-friendly signage at their eye-level, and new training for staff so they can recognise the unique needs and concerns of families passing through security

• The pre-flight play areas that were first introduced into all terminals over the summer proved so popular that they have already made a return to Terminal 5 and will be in all other terminals from 5 December until 8 January. WHSmith will also host storytelling sessions within the Terminal 5 play area on Friday 16 December

• 'Kids eat for free' restaurant deals will be on offer across Heathrow's terminals at Est Caffe in Terminal 1, Three Bells in Terminal 3, Garfunkel's and Dining Street in Terminal 4 and Five Tuns in Terminal 5

• Extra customer service staff will be on hand to assist families and hand out special treats including Cadbury's Santa’s Elves chocolates and sticker books to keep children occupied and entertained. If that wasn't enough, CBeebies will take over some of the TV screens in each terminal

• Father Christmas himself will be checking into Heathrow from 17 December to meet children and reassure them that, wherever they are flying to, he will still be able to find them on Christmas Eve. Joining Father Christmas will be carol singers from the Salvation Army and even opera singers. The full schedule is available at www.heathrowairport.com/holiday

• The Reserve & Collect service has been revamped so that parents can search for and reserve products online or over the phone before they even leave their front door and then pick them up after security. Products for busy parents include essentials such as baby milk and nappies, as well as a wide range of children's toys from stuffed animals to electrical items

As always, passengers can get in touch with Heathrow via twitter (twitter.com/HeathrowAirport) where their child related travel questions can be answered, and take advantage of the Heathrow mobile app which features an airport travel planner, city guides, five day weather forecasts, long stay car park booking, flight information and terminal maps.

John Holland-Kaye Commercial Director at Heathrow said: "Heathrow is doing everything it can to ensure families have a smooth and stress-free Christmas this year. By working closely with parenting groups, Heathrow was able to identify what worked and what needed improving. We're looking forward to welcoming families over the Christmas season so they can experience for themselves how we've made every journey better.

"Heathrow has recognised that families have unique challenges when heading off on holiday so there will be plenty for children to do, as well as great services and offers, and that means parents have more time to focus on their journey ahead and enjoying the festive spirit."

Heathrow's Top Travel Tips For Families Flying This Easter

Heathrow, which flies more people to and from the world's biggest cities than any
other UK airport, is preparing for its busiest month this year with more than 5.5
million passengers set to pass through the airport terminals this Easter.

To help make families' journeys as smooth as possible, Heathrow has lined up lots
of fun activities to entertain little ones this April. There are also plenty of
services which parents can take advantage of this Easter - and all year round - to
make travelling with children easier.


Free Family Fun

. Easter bunnies will be handing out over 100,000 free mini Cadbury Creme Eggs to
children across all four terminals

. Heathrow staff will be handing out free iSpy books and bendy pencils to keep kids
busy and entertained before their flight

. Much-loved cartoon characters, Peppa Pig and Humungousaur, will be roving around
the terminals to meet and greet kids travelling through the airport on the busiest
days in April

. Kids eat free for the whole month of April at Est Caffe in Terminal 1, Dining
Street Restaurant & Bar at Terminal 4 and Huxleys in Terminal 5. Firm family
favourites such as Giraffe, Bridge Bar & Eating House, Pret A Manger and Chez
Gérard will also be adding new kids dishes on their menus

. Fancy giving your kids a run around before the flight? Heathrow is setting up a
pre-flight play area in Terminal 5 over the busiest weekend of the holidays where
children can use up all their energy before the journey ahead


Heathrow's Here To Help

. The Heathrow Journey Team handle a range of passenger care needs from customer
service and shopping assistance to wayfinding. Dressed in purple uniforms they are
dotted all around the terminals and are on hand to help out with any passenger
request from pharmacy to food, they just need to ask!

. Unsure what you can and can't pack in your hand luggage? Heathrow has produced a
security leaflet giving families all the information they need to get through
security quickly. It's available to download from the website here.

. We know having enough baby food and milk, as well as getting it though security,
are among the biggest concerns for parents travelling with young children.
Parents can reserve baby milk ahead of time from Boots stores airside and collect
it before they board. For complete peace of mind simply visit Reserve & Collect and
your order will be ready for you when you reach the departure lounge

. Plan your entire airport visit from the palm of your hand with Heathrow's free app.
This complete mobile advice service helps passengers locate and book the most
convenient method of transport to the airport, whilst providing up to the minute
information on check-in procedures, airport news and terminal details. Once at the
airport, the app provides detailed terminal maps, shop locations and even the latest
retail offers, linked to directly from Heathrow's Twitter feed

. Run out of battery? There are free charging points located in the seating areas
and at most gates across Heathrow terminals for passengers to charge their phones,
laptops and games before they board

. There are baby change areas and free drinking water fountains in each terminal
at Heathrow, both before and after security control - most of which are located
alongside the toilet blocks.