A Sheffield mum is appealing for help with a mascot outfit that she had commissioned to cheer up her disabled son this Christmas.

Alison Orbell, 47, ordered a Paddington Bear mascot to be made for her 16-year-old son, Max, but after weeks of waiting, the result was far from what she had hoped for.

She said: “His favourite two things in the world are Paddington and the Gruffalo. Everything he has, everything about him, is Paddington.”

Max is the owner of Paddington blankets, toys, and even clothes. The character brings him comfort at a time that is incredibly difficult for him and his family.

Max has been in and out of Sheffield Children’s Hospital for long periods this year due to his deteriorating health.

His family often hire Paddington Bear mascots to come and visit him but, this time, they wanted to go a step further and get a costume of their own specially made.

But Mrs Orbell said Max, who is usually delighted by visits from his favourite character, was visibly confused and underwhelmed at the sight of the mascot costume.

She said the mascot was terrifying and inaccurate, from the blacked-out pupils to the off-putting red top hat.

Mrs Orbell said Max looked at her as if to say: “This is not Paddington.”

In the meantime, the family has resorted to hiring mascots for quick visits again to light up Max’s day where their own costume fails to do so.

They are now asking the local community for help, and are looking for a costume designer, seamstress or anyone with creative flair who can help fix up or redesign the costume.

Mrs Orbell is requesting that anyone able to help gets in contact with her.