SOFT-hearted hotel bosses in Bolton could not “bear” to read about the sad plight of charity worker Roy Harris back in December, 1989.

As reported in the, then, Bolton Evening News, Roy hit out after callous thieves stole a furry bundle of fund-raising teddy bears from his driveway.

But generous staff from the Last Drop Hotel and Restaurant in Bromley Cross came to Roy’s rescue by providing a pile of pint-sized cuddly teddies.

Tom Ashton, who was Conference and Banqueting manager at the Last Drop told the Bolton Evening News they had got a delivery of bears as part of a liqueur promotion at the hotel and after reading about the theft they decided to give some of them to Roy.

Mr Ashton presented the bundle of bears to Roy, who worked for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

The stolen toys — used in raffles to raise cash for the NSPCC — were taken from a caravan on Roy’s driveway the previous week.

Here we see a delighted Roy (left) and Tom Ashton with the bears.