Cuddly toy missing after 500 giraffe charity flight

Jofre the cuddly toy giraffe has been missing for almost a month

A cuddly toy giraffe has gone missing after he was one of about 500 that took part in a charity flight to raise money.

Jofre the giraffe was onboard an RAF Voyager that took off from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 25 April for an air-to-air refuelling mission.

Owner Vickie Hall, 51, from Wellingborough, secured his seat by making a donation to Giraffes On Tour, which supports Great Ormond Street Hospital.

A Royal Mail spokesperson apologised for any inconvenience caused and said the "vast majority" of packages were delivered successfully.

Jofre the toy giraffe boarded the flight at RAF Brize Norton and was expected back in April

Each giraffe was supposed to be sent back to their owners with memorabilia of the flight and a special certificate.

Ms Hall, a support worker, said when Jofre did not arrive as expected on 29 April she called the Royal Mail to "track his whereabouts".

"I was very concerned that he hadn't come home and was lost," she said.

She said Royal Mail told her Jofre had been tracked to South Midlands Distribution Centre, in Northampton, on 30 April.

Where he was "transferred into a container to be transported to a local hub in Wellingborough" according to a Royal Mail spokesperson.

Ms Hall said: "Even my postie tells me every morning that he's keeping a look out for me.

"Jofre is a character, he is one of seven, I have a small heard of cuddly giraffes that get sent on charity missions.

"I'd like to see him safely returned home because he has sentimental value."

Owner Vickie Hall said: "Jofre is missed by his herd at home and belongs with his brothers."

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We deliver more than a billion parcels every year with the vast majority delivered successfully.

"We apologise for the inconvenience this customer experienced, and it is not representative of our usual service.

"We encourage any customer who experiences a loss to contact us directly and we will investigate.”