ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Beth Grove made a fiery new friend at the hospice she goes to.

A real-life version of Excitable Edgar, the Christmas ad mascot for John Lewis, who had been in the window at the Oxford Westgate Centre store, paid her a visit.

Edgar stopped by Helen & Douglas House in Oxford and brought a few copies of his own book to hand out.

Beth, who is from Banbury, read about Edgar's adventures with the help of hospice nurse Rebecca Lake.

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Edgar also hung out with some teenagers at the hospice in January, including 14-year-old Jasper Grannum, who visits Helen & Douglas House for respite stays.

They had fun at one of the hospice's #network Saturday youth groups.

Jasper enjoyed meeting Edgar so much that he asked if he could take him home, and Edgar is now living happily ever after with his new family in Chalfont St Giles.

Jasper said ‘Edgar makes me smile and reminds me of Christmas."