THE search is on to find a beloved teddy bear that was stolen from a primary school in Trowbridge during a raid over Easter.

Hugo the bear was the cherished mascot of Holbrook Primary School for the past 10 years, ever since headteacher Roger Whitewick joined the school.

But on April 14, the school was broken into overnight and a sound system, food items collected for Storehouse Foodbank – and Hugo – were stolen.

Mr Whitewick, who bought Hugo 24 years ago when started his first headteacher job at a school in Wincanton, said: “Hugo wore the Holbrook school uniform and played a crucial part in school life.

“The people who broke into the school didn’t steal anything of immense value but they instead took something of huge sentimental value.

“When we got back to school after the Easter break and saw that Hugo wasn’t in my office, we searched the school thinking someone may have taken him for a walk and forgotten to put him back, but then it became apparent there had been an entry and he’d been taken.”

Hugo went on every single school trip with pupils and played a vital role in the weekly Friday celebration assemblies.

Two pupils from each of the eight classes who had achieved over the past week were invited to the front of the hall where they hugged Hugo on a piece of red carpet – a ceremony they all loved and looked forward to.

“Since Hugo was taken we’ve had the red carpet at the assemblies but no bear to hug and he's been sadly missed,” added Mr Whitewick, 56.

“When I told pupils that he'd been taken at the first celebration assembly after Easter they thought I was joking – when they realised I was being serious they were devastated.

“Like me, a lot of pupils at the school have grown very fond of Hugo and we would love to have him back where he belongs. Please get in touch or call the police if you have any information, it would be amazing if he was returned."

Police launched an investigation after the raid but so far no arrests have been made.

If you have any information, call Wiltshire Police on 101.