TEDDY bears are the latest group to give a paws-up to Southend’s Victoria Centre.

Steve and Babs Kohler have opened Teddy Station in an upper level unit of the mall, after they came up with the inspiration for the business while on honeymoon at Euro Disney in 2008.

The shop offers children the chance to select from a range of teddy bearskins, then fill them using the shop’s special teddy bear stuffing machine.

Although this is not the first bear-stuffing business to open in Essex, Steve and Babs believe it is the first wholly independent one.

Their personal input is shown by the original touches they have brought to Teddy Station.

Steve, a former designer, has used his practical skills around the shop. The centrepiece is the mounting for the stuffing machine, which is a mock-up of a steam train. The kapok – the fibre – spins in a glass bowl, giving the effect of steam emerging from the engine’s funnel.

Teddy Station also organises children’s parties on the premises, with a dress-up teddy bear as one of the hosts.

Steve is enthusiastic about the centre as a place to do business. “There’s great potential for businesses here to co-operate,” he said. “We’re already working with a the Wimpy restaurant to provide food for our children’s parties.

“The centre is bucking the national trend. Visitor numbers are on the rise. Give it a year, and things will be really buzzing here. We intend to do our bit to add to that buzz.”