A LYME Regis shop is encouraging parents to tag their child's teddy bear before setting off on holiday to prevent the heartbreak of a missing companion.

Broad Street business, Alice's Bear Shop, have started a national campaign to safeguard youngsters' fluffy friends - by offering a simple and effective way to help travelling teds find their way back home.

As many parents will know, when adventurous teddies and toys go exploring without their human and get a little lost, it can be extremely traumatic for parents, children, and of course the teddy. The small Lyme Regis company has created Teddy Tags - in order for little ones to be reunited with their teddies.

Rikey Austin, owner of Alice's Bear Shop, said: "We know a child's special toy can never be replaced, no matter how similar they look to the original.

"The answer simply has to be to reunite toys with children and to start a national campaign to tag your teddy."

Alice's Bear Shop decided to create Teddy Tags due to the number of distressed parents who contact their seaside shop, which also houses a teddy bear hospital, each year - following the disappearance of their child's special ted.

Teddy Tags have been sold throughout the UK online and in independent teddy bear and gift shops since launching last month.

Tags are available in packs of ten. Each little satin tag has space to write a contact phone number and is printed with the words 'I am someone's special friend. If I look lost, please let them know.'

Once the number has been written on the tag, it is sewn onto the cuddly friend, enabling anyone who finds the lost toy to easily contact the owner.

For more information, visit alicesbearshopuk.com