Sick children across Glasgow have been given a well needed boost this week after a Glasgow woman created teddies which look just like them.

The teddies feature feeding tubes and catheter bags, these toys were created by Fiona Allan 28, a young woman from Glasgow who like many of the children she has helped also has to wear a nasal feeding tube and surgical catheter as a result of Ehlers Danlos syndrome a serious genetic condition she was born with.

She was inspired to create the teddies after struggling to adapt to her own appearance, and feeling far worse for young children who likely experienced the same feelings.

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Fiona told the BBC Scotland news website: "As an adult I found it difficult to get used to life with extra medical things. "I do crafts and soon after I was asked by a friend to create a teddy for a little girl with autism.

"It went down really well and when photos were posted online I was asked for more."

Currently her teddies are a huge success and making a huge difference to children’s lives. Fiona has spoken of the teddies benefits to both the sick child and others around them, she said “Sick children often have a non-sick sibling. It helps them get used to it. They can play with them, touch them and even learn what parents do to manage and clean them”.

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The toys are in high demand and Fiona has currently made about 20 bears all with real tubes and fittings. The teddies are also loved by parents, one mum Emily Cotton spoke of the numerous benefits that Fiona’s teddies have made to her daughter Darcey’s life.

Emily said: "The teddy has helped my daughter adapt to the medical devices she now has.

"It distracts her from pulling the real ones out of her and it is comforting and easy to explain to other small children why my little one needs all her tubes to survive reports BBC news.