PEOPLE were left scratching their heads after dozens of cuddly toys vanished overnight.

People in the Mile Oak area woke up on April Fool’s Day to see a giant Angry Bird toy had been tied to a post near Fox Way.

One by one, more toys and teddies started appearing and soon residents began to use their daily walks to enjoy a “teddy bear hunt”.

But families were left baffled on Friday when the cuddly creatures suddenly disappeared without trace.

Grandmother Michele Openshaw, 49, said: “They totally vanished, they were just gone.

“You would think if it was kids then they might have turned up somewhere but they were nowhere to be seen.

“The only one that was left was the original Angry Bird one.

“It was very weird, we even contacted the council as someone suggested it might have been them – but they said it was not a problem.”

Undeterred, residents who had grown accustomed to the teddy bear hunt started adding toys again and the new collection is now even bigger and better.

Children – and adults – in the area are being treated to a wide range of cuddly creatures including penguins, dogs, pandas and Winnie the Pooh. Michele, who has helped in the effort to restore the collection, said: “People are saying it is making them smile as they are out walking, which is what everyone needs right now.

“I went up there yesterday and there are lots of kids – spread out obviously – and cars going past giving a toot.”

Brighton and Hove city councillor Peter Atkinson, Labour representative for the area, said: “I think it’s a great gesture from local residents and it was also a great gesture from whoever replaced the teddies.

“I checked with Cityclean and they said it was nothing to do with them – they are quite relaxed about the whole thing.

“I think that anything that raises the spirits and shows people that we’re all in this together is great – that we can make gestures like this which lighten the mood and bring smiles.”