A team of teddies has joined up with police in Hertfordshire to comfort scared or upset children.

PC Trauma Teddy and friends start work this week with Hertfordshire’s road policing unit, fully trained and ready for deployment to comfort hurt, frightened and upset children.

Along with the usual kit of traffic cones and breathalysers, each road policing unit car will now be equipped with two friendly soft teddies for officers to give to children who find themselves caught up in a police incident.

The unit concentrates on ensuring safety on the roads but can go to any incident where required.

The toys, provided by the Bedfordhsire Police Federation and Mothercare, are suitable for all ages and were suggested by PC Sam Sparkes when she saw them on duty in Cambridgeshire.

She said: “We go to numerous incidents, especially road collisions, where it’s stressful enough for the adults, let alone for children who really have no idea what’s happening. I thought these lovely teddies would be just the job to help give children some comfort and something else to focus on in a traumatic situation.

“We’ve been able to keep some of PC Teddy’s colleagues in reserve so that every time a bear goes home with an upset child, I can send a replacement out.”