LITTLE Harriet Parnell cannot bear to be separated from the cuddly unicorn on which she lavishes kisses and cuddles.But her displays of affection have taken their toll and Harriet's parents now fear what will happen if they are unable to find a replacement before Horsey, as he is known, reaches his last legs.

LITTLE Harriet Parnell cannot bear to be separated from the cuddly unicorn on which she lavishes kisses and cuddles.

But her displays of affection have taken their toll and Harriet's parents now fear what will happen if they are unable to find a replacement before Horsey, as he is known, reaches his last legs.

They are therefore making a desperate plea to anyone who may have a similar unicorn which is no longer needed and could be passed on into the loving care of one-year-old Harriet.

"She's had Horsey since Christmas," explained mum Sam Parnell, of Nunn Close, Martlesham. "She was six months old and we thought she was far too little to attach herself to something like this but when she was seven months old she decided this horse was the one. They're completely inseparable now.

"She gets hysterical if she hasn't got him, she won't go to sleep without him. "She'll fall asleep eventually – after a lot of crying."

Unfortunately Harriet's shows of love, and the frequent washes he must have because of all the dirt picked up as she drags him around, have started to leave Horsey in a rather sorry state.

As a result she may soon be forced to be separated from the toy, which was bought for £2 from the Chilly's Magical Friends Collection in Tesco at Christmas. The company no longer has any in stock.

Although Horsey gets washed three or four times a week, he soons begin to smell again and his tail is permanently grey.

Mrs Parnell said: "I'm just worried that one day I'll put him in the washing machine and that will be it. It's hard to tell how long he's got left but I think he's probably got another six months in him."

Mrs Parnell wants to find a replacement or spare for Horsey as soon as possible, however.

She said: "My brother asked me why I just don't leave it so that when he goes he goes, but I can't.

"There's no in between crying for her. She's tired, she can't find Horsey and then she's hysterical. It's not nice to hear. And I just think it's mean to force her to go through that."

Frequent efforts to entice her to play with other toys have also failed and Mrs Parnell said: "We've tried her with lots of other toys in the hope we can slowly move Horsey out of the way but she won't play with anything else."

n If you can answer the desperate plea of Mrs Parnell and Harriet and have a small unicorn from the Tesco Chilly's Magical Friends Collection which you are willing to pass on, contact the Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 282257 or email StarNews@eveningstar.co.uk