A bear rescued from cruelty thanks to the fund-raising efforts of one woman is being named after her.

Phillipa Alexander hopes to come face-to-face with her hairy namesake after raising £6,000 for International Animal Rescue (IAR) and their work to rehome India's dancing sloth bears.

The profits of an internet auction which collected £6,000 for the charity will be handed over to organisers today after Miss Alexander, 33, of Ditchling Rise, Brighton, enlisted the help of colleagues at BUPA International.

The Brighton-branch of the company handed over more than half of the money.

It will be used to collect six bears off the streets of India and house them in a specially-built sanctuary in the north of the country.

Alan Knight, chief executive of IAR, said: "Support from passionate animal lovers like Phillipa is absolutely vital if we are to continue our campaign to cut free all the dancing bears in India.

"With determination, energy and enthusiasm, individuals like Phillipa can really help us make a difference to the lives of suffering animals."

IAR has secured more than 100 acres of land for bears rescued from the illegal trade in India.

Bears are kidnapped as cubs, their teeth knocked out, claws ripped off and rings forced through their noses.

The owners then force them to dance on the roadside for tourists.

It was this sight during a trip to India, only hours after her boyfriend proposed at the Taj Mahal, which prompted Miss Alexander to try to help the animals.

She said: "I know that four bears have already been microchipped and are waiting to go into the sanctuary.

"I think one of them will be called Phillipa.

"I would like to go out to India again and see how they are rescued because I only got a glimpse of the horror that they go through.

"I would love to see them happier in the sanctuary.

"I went out to India not wanting to see these dancing bears but I did see them and after that I had to do something."

For more details, visit www.iar.org.uk