HEARTBROKEN tot Keane Holt sobbed himself to sleep after his favourite cuddly toy went missing.

His caring dad Lee has now launched a desperate search for Monkey and has even put up a reward for its safe return.

Keane, three, had taken Monkey shopping with him last Tuesday and put it into his younger sister Kendra’s pram at around 2pm.

At bedtime the distraught youngster cried when he couldn’t find his soft toy at his home in Moorside Drive, Clayton-le-Moors, and has been left wondering where his best friend is.

Despite the pouring rain that night, Lee went out with a torch trying to find the 12-inch toy but had no luck despite looking in bus shelters and bushes along Abbey Street.

The following day, he and wife Angela retraced their steps, popping into all the shops they had visited the previous day in the town centre.

The couple have also put up A4 posters in shop windows, appealing for information, and are offering a £10 reward for the toy’s return.

Lee even got in touch with the manufacturer to ask for a replacement but the new arrival was a different size and colour.

And Keane was not impressed despite being told that this was Monkey’s cousin who was visiting while Monkey was on holiday.

Lee said: "I’m trying to find out if anyone picked him up. He could be anywhere.

"If we can’t find him, there must be people out there who bought the same toy. It was originally bought for me by my sister from Clinton Cards, but when my little boy was a baby I gave it to him and he has never let go of it since. It has been everywhere with us – including New York, the Dominican Republic and Majorca.

"Nearly every picture I have of my son has Monkey on it. He’s never far from it and he even takes it to nursery in his backpack. It even took pride of place on the Christmas tree instead of a fairy.

"Monkey means everything to him. Since he lost his friend, he has wet the bed, which he hasn’t done since he was a baby.

"It’s hard because I just want to go out and buy him another toy – but he just wants Monkey."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lee at work on 694333.