A TOWER of ‘trauma teddies’ has been donated to the county’s police force to hand out to worthy young children.

Youngsters who are caught up in any trauma where the police are called can now be comforted using the cuddly companions.

The idea was sparked by a project on the ‘Bicester Acts of Kindness’ Facebook page and aims to build a rapport between the police and the public while comforting children in need.

The 100 Ikea teddy bears were handed over to Thames Valley Police Bicester team earlier this month by young Evie Walker, whose mum Hannah Walker started the project.

Mrs Walker said: “I created the Facebook group Bicester Acts of Kindness to make giving something back to the community easily accessible.

“If everyone helps make their community a kind place to live it benefits us all.

“Every act of kindness makes a difference and it doesn’t have to cost anything, or be a grand gesture. There are endless ways to be kind and the group facilitates this.

“I carry out a number of projects in the Bicester Acts of Kindness name and Bicester Bears is one of them.

"I hope they help to build a rapport between the police and the public, whilst also comforting and rewarding children they encounter.”

The 100 bears were bought thanks to a donation from local 80s cover band Sledgehammer who contacted the Bicester Facebook page to help with a local project.

The group jumped at the chance to donate the money for the ‘trauma teddies’ and the first one has already been handed out.

TVP Bicester officers handed one to six-year-old Charlie Cree-Lekarla, from Leamington, who was passing through Bicester on a 100-mile charity bike ride.

PC Vicky Lees gave Charlie his teddy as a 'well done' from Thames Valley Police for his charity efforts.

The teddy bears are not only to hand out to children following a traumatic or distressing incident but also those deserving for many other reasons. Mrs Walker also stressed she wanted to project to spread further than just Bicester and benefit children across the county.

Inspector James Holden-White of the Bicester police team said: “Often children’s first encounters with police follows crimes against family members, road accidents and bereavements and other forces have used trauma teddies initiatives successfully to comfort children in distress.

“Bicester bears aim to serve this purpose and more, as our officers will be able to distribute them to the disadvantaged and to reward the deserving as well, hopefully giving children a positive experience with the police.

“The bears won’t just turn up when disaster strikes, they are out in the response and neighbourhood vehicles now, patrolling with officers and looking forward to finding a good home.”

Search Facebook for Bicester Acts of Kindness.