A bear has been rescued from the icy waters of a millpond in Maidstone.

Staff from Futures for Children, a fostering agency based at The Masters House in College Road, came to the rescue of a bear seen in distress in the mill pond at the junction of Mill Street and Palace Avenue.

The small brown-looking bear was first spotted by Fay Thompson, the senior administrator at the organisation, on her return after the Christmas and New Year break.

She said: “Every time I walked past the mill pond, it made me so sad to see his little face looking up at me.”

On hearing of the bear’s plight, her colleagues decided on a rescue mission and staff and friends, with the help of an extended fishing net, made an attempt to release the bear from the brambles which were the only things keeping him afloat, and to hook him out of the water.

Unfortunately this proved more difficult than expected.

Help was sought from staff at the Robins and Day garage that sits by the mill pond, and from Maidstone Borough Councils’ street tidy team.

Finally the bear was liberated and brought to dry land.

The bear has been named Robin by Futures for Children after the Robins and Day garage near to where he was found and he now has a smile on his face.

While he recovers from his ordeal, the Futures for Children placement team has found him a foster carer to give him a home while attempts are made to trace his real owner.

Andrea Hancock from Futures Group said: “Now, Robin’s been through the wash a few times, he actually looks more cream in colour, and he is from Build-A-Bear.”

Anyone who has lost Robin can contact Miss Hancock on 01622 760600