AN antique teddy bear is helping Three Owls Bird Sanctuary to beat the credit crunch.

The vintage Farnell bear was donated to the Norden sanctuary, which needs to raise £2,000 a week through fund-raising events, donations, lottery subscriptions and adoptions.

But it has recently seen a noticeable dip in its income and is now relying on its emergency funds to keep running.

The 1920s bear, donated by a supporter of the sanctuary, is being sold on the internet auction site eBay among 31 other items, including classic vinyl Queen LPs, signed memorabilia from former ‘Coronation Street’ actress Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth and signed books by Linda LaPlante and Sir David Attenborough.

It is hoped that the bear will raise in the region of £300.

Three Owls manager Nigel Fowler said: "We are not on the verge of closing, but we are now dipping into our emergency funds, which usually get us through the harsh winter months. We have noticed a dip in income, probably because people are being more careful with money. The first thing that people stop giving to is charity."

The closing date for bids on the bear is next Friday.

Mr Fowler added: "The bear was donated to the sanctuary by someone who knew that it would raise a lot of money. It is about 90 years old and it has been much loved and cared for."