Treasured toys from around the world restored in bear hospital

Her love of teddy bears went from a hobby to a full-time job and she is known for her knowledge and her skill as a vintage bear restorer at her Ripon home.

She deals with bears from the early 1900s, when teddy bears were first manufactured, to the 1960s and bears have been sent to her from as far afield as Australia, America and Europe.

Often there are sad stories behind the bears. For one lady, her teddy, attacked by a dog, was her only reminder of her parents who died in the Holocaust.

"A lot of times you are dealing with a childhood friend. It is a great honour for me to be able to look after the bear, and restore it for someone, because it has been so precious, " said Dot.

"I never know what I'm going to get through the post, and when I open up the box containing the teddy bear, it's always a surprise. Some can be very quick to repair, others can take a long time.

"Sometimes I get a little frustrated when I have spent a whole day dyeing a piece of fabric to match the teddy bear and it still is not right, and I have to start again the next day.

"But then I remember that I am working with someone's precious teddy bear, and the history behind it," she added.