AN EVESHAM hotel is raising money for a Worcestershire hospice by selling some cuddly companions.

Handmade teddy bears created by seamstress Vanessa Higgins have been a fixture of the Evesham Hotel in Coopers Lane for more than 24 years and almost £10,000 has been raised for Acorns Children’s Hospice by selling the furry friends to guests who fell in love with them during their stay.

Now with only 16 bears still living at the hotel, owner Sue Jenkinson and her team have made the decision to let them all go to happy new homes.

“Vanessa’s bears have become an integral part of the Evesham Hotel by making all our guests feel welcome and at home," she said.

“They take pole position in bedrooms, as key fobs and in their very own cabinet, which was named after a very special little girl, Sophie, who unfortunately lost her battle with leukaemia at just aged 10.

“In order to raise money for children like Sophie the Evesham Hotel has been selling Vanessa’s bears for a number of years directly to guests or through auctions and to date I am very proud of the funds we have managed to raise.”

She added the hotel has also launched a social media campaign, asking everyone who has bought one of the bears over the past 24 years to get in touch with a photo of them and where they are now.

“With only 2400 of these magnificent bears in existence, we are very interested to know how they are getting on,” she said.

“From recollection, we know that some have found loving homes in many exciting locations including Australia, USA, Chile, Mexico, Dubai, France and Germany, where some often write and send us a Christmas card.

“Therefore, we hope to receive a great response, and if we raise more money for the hospice along the way, it will be well worth it.”

Community fundraising officer at Acorns Rachael Anstey described the amount raised by the hotel as “a great achievement”.

“We are incredibly grateful to Vanessa and the Evesham Hotel for their support over the years through the sale of the bears,” she said.

For more information call 01386 765566.