Urgent appeal to find emotional support bear lost somewhere in Barnstaple

A grieving daughter whose mum passed away at the weekend has offered a reward for the safe return of a much-loved emotional support teddy bear.

Little Brown Bear (LBB) was last seen in Bear Street, Barnstaple, on Friday (March 6) and may be there or possibly at North Devon District Hospital.

He had been accompanying Deborah Ingham from Stoke, who rushed down after her 95-year-old mother went into hospital suddenly with pneumonia.

Sadly, Deborah’s mum died on Sunday night and now she needs the support of her beloved LBB more than ever.

He is a very distinctive bear, around 10 inches tall, wearing a multi-coloured hand-knitted sweater, a Liverpool FC scarf with several pins, carrying a rucksack and he has a silver cat collar barrel with his name and address around his neck, as well as a parrot.

Deborah knows she had him with her in Bear Street on Friday as she took a picture of outside the furniture shop and by the aptly-named Bear Street sign.

She believes he was with her in the car and then she drove to the hospital and went to see her mum in Tarka Ward. After visiting, she drove to Sainsbury’s car park and then discovered LBB was missing.

Deborah believes he could only be around Bear Street somewhere or at the hospital, either in the car park or perhaps gathered up with the laundry. The PALS service has been notified.

Deborah’s friend Di and her bear TourGuideTed have been helping with the search by posting on Barnstaple Facebook pages and further afield.

Di said: “LBB is a Very Important Bear and is desperately needed as his human has anxiety and is very stressed after the weekend losing her mom and her beloved bear.

“If anyone who does the hospital laundry could check, we’d be very grateful. We are happy to offer a reward for his safe return.”

If you have found LBB or have seen him, please email tourguideted@gmail.com

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