Teddies' total tots up to 20,000

By jgrant

A CUDDLY landmark has been reached at Broomfield Hospital.

The 20,000th teddy bear has been handed over at the A&E department as part of Essex Masons' TLC - Teddies for Loving Care scheme.

The Masons launched TLC seven years ago and since then 20,000 distressed children in the hospital's A&E department have been given a teddy.

The scheme, begun at Broomfield, was taken up in other areas and half a million teddies have been handed out worldwide.

Thanking the Masons, A&E staff said the teddies had made a real difference to children in pain and distressed, turning many tears to smiles over the years.