Search for space adventure bear who fell to Earth

School pupils are trying to track down a teddy bear sent flying into the upper atmosphere for a science experiment.

Bradfield Bear was launched on a high-altitude weather balloon from Lymington, Hampshire, two weeks ago by Year 7 and 8 students at Walhampton School alongside the Southampton University Spaceflight Society.

The little bear, along with the university team's toy badger Bill, soared up above the clouds and reached the stratosphere but then broke off from the balloon, and it is believed to have landed somewhere near Henley-on-Thames or Reading.

The weather balloon and the badger were safely recovered in a field near High Wycombe.

The little bear's flight went smoothly to start with as he soared into the sky but three hours in he was seen to detach from the balloon

The school said after getting the necessary permissions from the Civil Aviation Authority to enable a safe launch, the weather was monitored to ensure the balloon did not head out into the English Channel and lift-off was set for 12:30 GMT on 10 November.

The school said Bradfield lifted off on his "much anticipated space adventure" and soared up into the sky.

He had been expected to parachute back down to earth with the balloon in the Basingstoke area a few hours later.

Watching the footage from the onboard camera, the students saw the dramatic moment the little passenger's mission suffered technical difficulties at about 15:20 and he started his descent.

Bradfield's mission did not go quite as planned and he vanished at about 15:20 shortly after reaching the stratosphere, the school said.

Ellie Robinson, a science teacher at the school near the New Forest, said the bear did "amazingly" to reach 27km (16.7 miles) above the Earth.

"I am sure he is fine as we have reassured the children he is very brave and resourceful," she said.

She said it was thought the smart-looking bear, wearing a school uniform, checked shirt, navy shorts and matching bow tie, "may have gone towards Henley".

Tracking data suggests Bradfield Bear is between Earley near Reading and Fawley near Henley.

Anyone who has spotted the small brown space adventurer is urged to contact the school.