Over one hundred people dressed in giant panda costumes have been touring London today to raise awareness and mark 25 years of the Chengdu panda breeding and research centre in China.

108 pandas performed a tai chi inspired dance in Trafalgar Square, before moving on to Covent Garden. En route they passed Leicester Square and China Town, surprising passers by.

The 'flash mob' panda demo is intended to increase awareness of and support for pandas - one of the world’s most endangered species.

Zhang Zhihe, the head of the Chengdu Panda Base, said: "The Chengdu Panda base is thrilled to be starting Panda Awareness Week in London, especially as the world's attention shifts to the city, ahead of the 2012 Olympics." 

"Our ultimate goal is to help the pandas return to their natural habitat and to increase the number of giant pandas living in the wild. We hope that Panda Awareness Week can help us gain more support for panda conservation and find new advocates for this very special cause."

They have certainly grabbed the attention of Londoners, many people were shocked to see the gang of bears running through the street:

https://twitter.com/AndrewHavis/status/220487547741147136

https://twitter.com/KateAmeliaBrown/status/220487147797491712

https://twitter.com/Tilly_Bogle/status/220487085637910529

https://twitter.com/chriskeating/status/220484171510972416

https://twitter.com/DebbieCrawford2/status/220482672886169600

Photographs via @ChengduPAW.