A BROMSGROVE woman has been collecting teddy bears for sales to raise money for charity.

Vanessa Platt has been collecting teddy bears for months in an attempt to raise money for the Animals Asia charity.

The charity raises awareness for bears kept in appalling conditions, for up to 30 years of their lives.

The bears are kept in tiny cages and milked for their bile, that causes massive infections in the bears.

Vanessa said: "I have decided to raise as much money and awareness as I possibly can for Animals Asia's fight to rescue thousands of bears who are trapped in horrific bear bile farms in China and Vietnam and painfully milked for their bile which is used in Chinese medicine.

"I have been collecting teddy bears of all shapes and sizes and recently presented them at The Artrix along with my collection tin and collected almost £100."

Vanessa has continued to receive donations of teddy bears so has decided to hold another sale, which is taking place this Saturday, February 7.

It is being held at the Dolphin Centre, in School Drive, from 9am until noon.

There will be homemade cakes, a teddy tombola and name the bear.

Vanessa is also planning other events including a brunch for the bears event in May, and a possible barn dance later in the year.

For more details on the charity visit animalsasia.org/uk/our-work/end-bear-bile-farming.