VOLUNTEERS have been left "saddened" after being told that the famous teddy bear stall will not return to Bournemouth's Lower Gardens this summer.

The charity stall - a well-known fixture in the gardens during the summer - was three years ago relocated to a new site near the mini-golf course.

Operators claimed they had seen takings drop since the stall was moved from its former location between the gardens and Pier Approach.

And this year, they have learned that the fundraising tombola will not return at all as the council pursues options that "breathe new life" into the gardens.

Councillor Anne Rey, who represents Throop and Muscliff, has volunteered at the stall since the 1960s, and said she has been left "upset" by the move.

"The stall was moved to its new position several years ago, and that was awful for us," she said.

"The council said it was moved for health and safety reasons. But it had been standing at its first location for many years and it wasn't a problem in all that time, so it is very hard to understand."

She said the situation was similar to the Hengistbury Head land train fiasco in the spring of last year.

The council’s decision to bring the Noddy train service in-house and end the arrangements that have been in place for 45 years sparked a public outcry, with more than 20,000 people signing an online petition.

And the public outcry secured the future of the existing service, with the current operators receiving a new three-year contract in 2014.

Cllr Rey said: "The stall supports many charities, and a decision like this could have a huge impact on some, particularly the smaller ones.

"This is something that Bournemouth families have visited for generations. I can't understand how it can just be gone."

Chair of the Lower Gardens Central Trust Board, Cllr Bob Chapman, said: "The trust board considered a report on charitable collections at its last meeting in January 2015 and the trustees agreed that charitable work must continue in the gardens, but that new ideas should be developed to breathe new life into this charitable work.

"The charities that have benefitted from the teddy bear stall in the past will be considered for any future scheme that is introduced in the gardens, and they will be kept informed throughout the year."

The Lower Gardens are overseen by the board, which is independent from the council due to its charitable registration.