SALE charity founder Andrea Lea could 'bearly' believe the incredible reaction she received following a plea for help.

And the scores of offers of assistance will see thousands of teddy bears being spruced up in readiness to be sent to underprivileged children thought the world, in time for Christmas.

Andrea set up Bearly Loved three years ago, to donate teddies to underprivileged children throughout the world.

Messenger reported last month how the organisation had received a windfall. A boy who filled a Widnes football stadium with teddies to raise funds for a local charity, has forwarded the 13,000 bears of all sizes to Andrea’s charity.

Andrea needed to get the bears cleaned up before she could send them out in time for Christmas.

So she appealed on Facebook for people to 'wash a bag of bears' - and was staggered by the response.

Within a day, the Facebook post had been seen by 15,000 people and over 100 people had offered their help - and offers of assistance are continuing to flood in.

Andrea also had an 'overwhelming' response when she asked customers at the Bianco Cafe in Sale to take home a bag of bears and give them a bath.

Andrea said: "People have filled their arms, cars, vans and hearts with teddies.

"This is the reason Bearly Loved exists.

"It's been a privilege to see a community come together, to see people full of love because they've chosen to give some of their time and to be reminded that there are so many beautiful people who are looking for opportunities to share that love.

"To all who have offered their help, thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

Andrea, 39, also intends to send an ‘ambassador’ bear to every primary school in the UK.

* For further details and to help the charity log onto www.bearlyloved.org