A mum from Prestatyn claims she’s been denied a passport by the Home Office after changing her name to Pudsey Bear for charity 16 years ago. Eileen De Bont, 53, became ‘Mrs P Bear’ in honour of the Children In Need mascot having raised £4,000 at an online eBay auction for the cause back in 2009.

The Welsh mum-of-two, now affectionately known as ‘Mama Bear’ by her daughters, successfully changed her name when the UK Deed Poll Service secured the highest bid. She had given a list of 50 options stating that she would change her name to the one chosen by whoever bid the most.

Her driver’s licence and bank card both bear the names ‘Mrs P Bear’ and ‘Mrs Pudsey Bear’ respectively while council tax communications address her as ‘Ms Pudsey Bear’ and Inland Revenue calls her ‘Mrs Pudsey Bear’.

Despite being recognised by various government agencies under her chosen moniker she has struggled with the Passport Office which has repeatedly refused to issue her a passport, calling her name change “frivolous”. Mrs Bear recently faced another setback when warned that her renewed attempt at acquiring a passport could be thwarted due to potential copyright infringement issues.

She told MailOnline: “All my bills, my bank details, the GP, my local health trust – verywhere else has accepted my new name. Everywhere except the Passport Office. When I applied back in 2009 their reasoning was that it was a frivolous name and therefore the answer was no.”

She continued: “I thought that after 16 years the passport agency can hardly call my name ‘frivolous’. It is my name, and has been for 16 years, so I would like it on the front page of my passport next to my photograph.”

Mrs Bear has previously been asked if she’d revert to her birth name but she’s fond of her current name and doesn’t want to change it. Her tarot reading business, Northern Light Tarot, which boasts 32,000 subscribers on YouTube, is even registered under Mrs Pudsey Bear at Companies House.

She was advised to seek permission from the copyright owner, the BBC, before proceeding with her application. Having given up driving due to medical reasons she now finds herself without any valid form of photographic ID.

And previously:

• Game of Thrones name sparks passport mix-up for family
• Family’s ordeal after son, whose name is inspired by Star Wars, refused passport due to copyright issues
• Paddington Bear given UK passport by Home Office