Girl pandas to giant’s need for a new friend

Seven-year-old Tian Tian Brunton, whose mother is from China and father is from Scotland, was so excited to hear the female panda was coming to Edinburgh Zoo that she wrote a letter describing the things they share in common.

The schoolgirl, from Peebles in the Borders, even enclosed a photograph so the panda, whose name means sweetie, would recognise her when she visits.

She wrote: “I am really looking forward to you coming to stay in Edinburgh because we have a lot of things in common with each other. Not many people here in Scotland can speak Chinese but some are learning.

“We can have a chat because I can speak Chinese.”

She also pointed out they were born just one year apart.

Hugh Roberts, chief executive at the zoo, said that the letter was “enchanting”.