A THIEF broke into a car and stole a large holdall containing a large number of teddy bears used to teach first aid to children.

The man, said to be in his 40s and carrying a large bottle of cider, broke into a car parked on Greenbank Road, in Darlington, on Tuesday evening.

When confronted by the owner of the car he ran off with a large black canvass bag containing teaching aids used in schools to teach first aid and CPR to young children.

The owner of the bag has appealed for its return saying: "I really want to stress that it is not the fact a load of teddy bears have gone missing.

"The bears actually cost me nothing and most were donated but the fact is, I use these bears to teach children first aid and I am no longer able to do this without them.

"Children and schools (and parents) are losing out because of someone who decided to take something that did not belong to him, something that was of no use to him whatsoever.”

It is thought the bag, which is 3ft by 3ft, may have been dumped by the thief once he realised what it contained.

The thief is described as white, about 5ft 7in, with black hair, bad skin and of stocky build. He was wearing a black puffa jacket.

Anyone with information is asked to call Darlington Police on 101, quoting incident reference 0451 of January 27.