An appeal has been launched to return a soft toy which was accidentally donated and for which there is now a £100 reward.

The toy in question is ’Bertha’, a muti-coloured bird, made by the brand Nature Planet.

Becca Maroney, who is 17 and has autism, had been downsizing her things and donated some old items to the (now-closed) Drop Inn Ministeries charity shop in Ramsey, where she lives, and accidentally gave Bertha away.

Her mum Victoria said that autistic people, including adults, can become attached to such items.

Known as ’comfort animals’ in the autistic community, they can often represent positive childhood memories, or serve as something to ground them and ’hang on to’.

Victoria mentioned the example of a BBC research engineer who brings his soft lion toy into meetings with him. She said that they would understand if the person who ended up with Bertha had also become attached and did not want to part with it - but if they would be willing to sell it then to get in contact.

Alternatively, anyone who has a toy with a pattern similar to Bertha’s is being asked to get in touch at victoria.maroney@ gmail.com

As for the impact that losing the toy had on her, Becca said: ’When I realised that she was one of the goners in the downsizing programme, I of course wasn’t happy.

’Then as time went on, the fact that she’s gone missing slipped me into depression.

’Nostalgia was "hitting" me in the face and still is.’

She added: ’The problem is when we did get "replacements", they look nothing like her basically, that’s because her kind (Nature Planet Fluffy Lutino) is as unique as a fingerprint.

’The company has done everything they can to help us and have been very kind.’

Becca continued: ’Whoever has Bertha, please make my wish come true as I have been so depressed for weeks and weeks now.

’It’s only a few months ago that I’ve realised that she means so much to me.

’It turns out, she was an accidental giveaway and I literally wish I hadn’t sent her down to the charity shop in the first place. The downsizing programme wasn’t fun at all, mentally and emotionally alike.

’We’ve put posters around Ramsey but unfortunately nothing came out of it so far. Bertha has been dominating my mind for weeks and weeks now.

’Please ask your family and friends (if you don’t have her yourself).’

In addition to her appeal, Becca wanted to share with people the use of the social media hashtag #actuallyautistic, which ’is a great way to learn more about autism as the information on how it feels comes directly from people with autism themselves’.

She added: ’People might even be surprised to discover their own autism this way which can bring about great healing for the whole family.

’Hopefully this will lead to greater understanding in the world at large’.