THE Highways Agency was the bearer of great news for a Redditch man who found himself separated from his beloved childhood teddy bears last Monday.

Masher and Bruno escaped from David Perry's roof rack as he drove from Beeston to Redditch.

When he realised they were missing he called the Highways Information Line (HAIL).

HAIL operator Martin Berry said: "We contacted our agents at the M1 depot in Sandiacre who kept an eye out for the bears during their patrols.

"Fortunately, Masher and Bruno had bounced off the carriageway onto the verge so although they were a bit shaken up, they weren't a threat to vehicles.

"We're delighted to have been able to help but we usually do this by giving out information about conditions on road networks rather than looking for teddy bears!"

Mr Perry, 26, said: "I'd been completing the sale of my late parents' house so the car was jam-packed with everything that had been left there.

"The bears were in a bag strapped to the roof rack with other possessions but the rope securing them came loose as I was driving.

"A lorry flashed me to warn me I had a problem but by the time I was able to pull in to the next service area, the bears had gone.

"I'm delighted with the response from HAIL. I've had the bears since I was a child and was resigned to the fact I'd lost them forever."