A collection of 60 teddy bears will be sold for victims of the Asian tusnami.

Given by an anonymous local donor, they will go under the hammer at Philip Laney's Malvern Auction Centre next month.

The exact date of the sale has still to be fixed but proceeds will go to the John and Annie Hofton Memorial Fund.

Mrs Hofton, who owned Tizzies on Belle Vue Terrace, was killed in the Boxing Day tsunami. Her husband also went missing and is presumed dead. The memorial fund in their name was set up to pay for an orphanage for young tsunami victims.

The teddy collection includes bears made Steiff and Merrythought, some up to 90 years old. The are expected to sell at prices starting from £10. The sale should raise at least £2,000.

Auctioneer Philip Laney said: "It's a really lovely gift, especially considering the donor could get a lot of money for them herself.

"We're obviously expecting a lot of collectors and dealers to be interested, but we're also hoping people will come along and buy a bear just to help the fund."

Call 01684 893933 for details.