Shropshire youngsters go Pudsey potty for Children in Need

Last year, Children in Need raised £26,757,446 on the night, which grew to almost double that in the weeks and months that followed the televised appeal.

All the money raised by Children in Need goes to support projects helping children and young people all over the UK.

Across Shropshire and Mid Wales, schools, shops and workplaces were answering the appeal to Show Your Spots, Let's Raise Lots, by taking part in a wide range of tough, challenging or just downright madcap stunts.

In Nesscliffe, children at St Andrew's Primary School dressed in their pyjamas, baked cakes and made a giant Pudsey Bear out of 2p pieces.

Many schools were having a non-uniform day, which sees pupils donate money to be allowed to wear themed fancy dress.

Youngsters at Gobowen Primary School were dressed up in the colours of Christmas for their fundraising efforts.

The children wore green or red while some even donned a bit of tinsel to bring a festive feel to the proceedings. The youngsters paid 50p each to take part in the non-uniform day.

Brave pupils and even braver staff at Shropshire's first academy school donned their pyjamas to take part in their non-uniform day.

Amy Gregory, spokeswoman at the Marches School in Oswestry, said: "The theme is pyjamas although onesies and the like are allowed as well.

"They made donations of £1 to come in their pyjamas and the staff are taking part too."

Students at the Oswestry campus of Walford and North Shropshire College were quick of the mark and have already staged various money-spinners.

Lucy Evans, spokeswoman for the college, said: "The students have done a smoothie bike challenge and we have had some dressing up too."

Meanwhile, extra staff have been drafted in to the BT centre in Oswestry as it prepares to deal with an extra 200,000 calls during tonight's Children in Need TV broadcast. Bosses say their main objective will be to ensure as many calls as possible get through to Children in Need.

Pupils at Ludlow CE School were wearing pyjamas for a £1 donation to Children in Need and the Young Minds charity. There was also a non-uniform day for pupils at the Endowed School in Bridgnorth.

Old Hall School in Wellington gave pupils chance to buy a balloon, which were released in a hall at the school. The 'owners' of the two which stayed up longest each received a Pudsey Bear.

There have been cakes on sale all week at Tibberton Primary School, plus sponsored events including three-legged walks, a silence and joke telling.Children at Tiggywinkles Montessori Nursery had been baking cakes and at Butterflies Nursery in Newport, staff and children wore pyjamas and onesies. Evie Laurie, from Shifnal, ran four miles to raise money and netted £80.

Children in Need takes over BBC One tonight with shows from 7.30pm to 2am.

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