Gosport teddy bear goes viral as he celebrates Easter and St George's Day and thanks NHS staff from his owners' front garden

Photos posted on Facebook show a bear from Gosport getting up to all kinds of mischief – from eating too much chocolate on Easter Sunday to attempting to do the ironing.

The bear, affectionately known as Big Ted or Mr Ted, has since gone viral, with the pictures being shared right across the world.

A little more than two weeks ago, he was put outside in Western Way, Alverstoke, by owners Nicki and Colin Smith.

Nicki said: ‘About four years ago we won the bear in a raffle, and he was a present for the grandchildren.

‘Somebody said to me that we should put him in our window for people to see while they were on their walks – but our window is quite far away from the pavement, so we put him out on the grass instead.

‘He’s been out there every day and people are absolutely loving it, which is just wonderful to see.’

Having collectively spent 21 years in the Royal Navy, Nicki and Colin are no stranger to serving their community.

Along their walks, countless people have stopped to take pictures with the bear, which are being shared across social media and with their families.

Big Ted has been making himself useful too, having come out to chop some wood and do some sewing.

‘People who I’ve never even met before have been stopping to chat about the bear,’ Nicki said.

‘They all live nearby and it’s so nice getting to know them. It's just my husband and I living here and we wanted to do something to put a smile on people’s faces.

‘It was just for the children to start with but everyone has enjoyed seeing what he gets up to each day.’

Nicki and Colin say they’re enjoying making people smile, adding that the beloved bear will remain outside, with more mischief soon to follow.

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