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The sculpture, which was specially commissioned to mark the launch of a new Natural History TV channel called "Eden", graphically brought to life one of the most iconic images of climate change - the melting ice caps.

A team of 15 artists spent two months constructing the 20ft by 20ft fibre glass structure which was launched in Greenwich, South East London before travelling up the Thames to stop beside Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament for a national photocall.

The polar bears' presence in London provides us with a reminder that it is now an endangered species, as its search for food becomes increasingly difficult. These and other environmental issues will be addressed in Eden's Fragile World series.

Broadcaster and eminent wildlife conservationist, Sir David Attenborough said:
"The melting of the polar bears' sea ice habitat is one of the most pressing environmental concerns of our time. I commend Eden for highlighting the issue; we need to do what we can to protect the world's largest land carnivores from extinction."

Now the polar bears' have finished their journey along the Thames, they will be taking the message about global warming to Hampstead Heath as well as key cities across the UK including Birmingham and Glasgow.