FIREFIGHTERS are urging big-hearted people to bring a little cheer to children who lost parents in the New York tragedy.

For every £10 donated, a special teddy bear, dressed up as firefighter, will be sent to a bereaved child of a firefighter who died in the September 11 disaster.

The appeal, called Trauma Ted, has previously helped British children traumatised through a fire, road traffic or major accident.

Firefighters have also used the cuddly fire teddy bear in community fire safety projects.

The appeal aims to alleviate the fear of a child who has been subjected to a terrifying ordeal, by focusing on something other than the incident.

But now the idea is being extended to America, to offer comfort to the children of firefighters who lost their lives at the World Trade Centre.

"We've only just received the teddies here," said Dave Smith, a sub officer for the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Combined Fire Authority in Copenhagan Street, Worcester.

"Some brigades have adapted the teddies into community safety so if children have gone through a traumatic incident such as fire or accidents, the firefighting teddy serves as a friend."

Mr Smith, who has been a firefighter for 23 years, said Herefordshire and Worcestershire fire brigade also wanted to say "a big thank you" to every one in the two counties contributed towards the £160,363.23 raised for the New York Fund-raiser Appeal.

The Trauma Ted Appeal is set up by The Fire Services National Benevolent Fund (FSNBF).

For £10 the FSNBF will arrange for a Trauma Ted together with a message of condolence to be sent out to New York to the bereaved children.

"We only have 10 firefighter bears over the whole of Herefordshire and Worcestershire," said Mr Smith, from Bransford.

"It's still a learning ground for the two counties at the moment but we're looking for companies in Herefordshire and Worcestershire in the near future to support the buying of teddies.

"It would have been nice if we could have got them out before Christmas, but they are likely to be shipped out in February.

"Every brigade in the country is doing this."

Anyone who wishes to help can send a £10 cheque payable to FSNBF (Marketing ), Ltd., Marine Court, Fitzalan Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5NF.