Appeal reunites boy with lost superhero toy

Emily Vickery found the superhero as she tidied up the stockroom at Primark in Basingstoke

A boy has been reunited with a beloved soft toy he lost during a shopping trip which has been by his side through numerous operations.

Lincoln, who has brittle bone disease and is from Reading, lost Iron Man in Basingstoke almost two weeks ago.

The eight-year-old's mum appealed on social media and contacted the BBC to help find the toy.

The superhero was found in a stock room by a shop worker who had seen the plea to find the toy.

Iron Man was discovered in a box in the Primark stock room

After retracing their route at the shopping centre, with no sign of the toy, Lincoln's family took to social media.

In the appeal, Lincoln, who has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, said Iron Man who he has had since he was born goes "everywhere with me... he's been there through all my operations - I really miss him."

The genetic defect causes Lincoln's bones to fracture or break easily.

Emily Vickery, who works in Primark and found the cherished toy, said: "I had watched the video and it made me really sad."

Lincoln said he was absolutely heartbroken when he found out his Iron Man teddy was missing

Ms Vickery said she was tidying up in the stock room at the end of a shift "turned around and just saw Iron Man sitting in this box and it just clicked... it was Lincoln's Iron Man.

"I don't know how he managed to get down there."

Lincoln returned to the store with his family to get the toy back.

On meeting Ms Vickery, he said: "Thank you... just thank you."

Ms Vickery said: "It was very emotional....I was just so happy to give him back."