A woman who works in Romford has appealed for the owner of a teddy bear she bought to come forward.

Georgie Alice Read, 27, came into Romford from Dagenham on June 13 and thinks she unwittingly bought a cherished family memento.

Georgie, who has around 20 bears, bought the soft toy - which appears to be from Build-a-Bear - at a Saint Francis Hospice shop but soon discovered it had a personal recording on it.

"It would mean everything to reunite it with its owner," she said. "It could be a personal message from their dad, or it could be a last memory before he passed away."

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She discovered the message when she pressed the bear's paw and a man's voice played with a heartfelt message to his daughter.

Georgie, who works in Romford Market, said she was cautious about the bear falling into the wrong hands so did not disclose the full message.

"This is the first time it has happened," she said. "That is why I checked all my bears and I want to return it to the owner."

If you think the bear could be yours, please contact george.hayes@newsquest.co.uk in the first instance.