SCHOOL children are smiling again after their missing mascot was found in a Weymouth gift shop.

Barnaby Bear - used as an aid to help teach geography to five to seven-year-olds in Bristol - was lost in the resort by one of the pupils during a visit with her parents.

Portishead Primary School teachers appealed for Dorset Echo readers to help trace their beloved teddy, and were overjoyed when staff at Christopher Robin realised they had found him.

Barnaby was last seen wearing a knitted red jumper with a Union Flag on the front and blue jeans.

Rosemary Davies, manager of the gift and fancy goods store on the Esplanade, said: "Staff member Louise Harris found him in the shop and recognised the description of distinctive clothing when she read it in the Echo.

"I hope it is the right one, it does seem to be similar, he has a tag saying 'Bear Factory' in his trousers."

Sarah Fuller, acting deputy head at the school, said: "That is definitely Barnaby - I am so pleased and happy he has been found.

"This is fantastic news for the children, the whole class was desperately upset that he had gone.

"I have been sad too, because I did not expect we would get him back.

"Barnaby was in very popular demand, he went all over the place and has already been to London and to Cork in Ireland, where he kissed the Blarney Stone. We are so happy to have him back because he has trips lined up to go to Disneyland and to go skiing." The school bought a replacement bear called New Barnaby and are now waiting for him to be introduced to Old Barnaby when he comes home after his adventures.

The bear can also be reunited with his suitcase that contains a spare set of clothes, pyjamas, toothbrush and toothpaste and his birth certificate.