County people help Children in Need

Organisers were celebrating today after the BBC's Children in Need appeal raised more than £20 million.

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People across Shropshire and Mid Wales donned superhero costumes, dressed up as blue Smurfs or had flashbacks to the 1970s to do their bit to raise money for the annual fundraiser.

The £20,309,747 haul at the end of the BBC telethon was just short of the amount raised at the same stage last year.

Personnel at RAF Shawbury became superheroes for the day to raise £1,000 for the charity.

Workers arriving at the main station entrance yesterday were greeted by three superheroes with buckets for collecting donations.Ê

The trio included Squadron Leader Colin Deane, the station senior air traffic control officer dressed as the Flash Gordon.

The other two heroes were Corporal Jason Lee and Senior Aircraftsmen Bryn Griffith.

In addition, Flying Officer Charlotte "Charlie" Gawne collected donations around the accommodation on the airbase.

The Air Traffic team raised close to £500 for the appeal.

Also raising funds were staff and students from the Trade Training Flight at the Central Air Traffic Control School.Ê

A range of events, organised by Sergeant Clive Halliday, were organised including a film night, auction of slaves, cake sale and raffle.Ê

The students were also able to throw wet sponges at their instructors shackled in the stocks. The Trade Training Flight fundraising also raised nearly £500.

Elsewhere in north Shropshire, students from Sir John Talbot School in Whitchurch dressed as Smurfs while male teachers at Longlands school in Market Drayton had their legs waxed.

Staff at Richard Burbidge in Oswestry were hoping to raise £200 by dressing up or down for the day.

Money is still pouring in and, if they achieve their target, the company directors will have to perform a forfeit.

One of the organisers Ruth Sperring, national account manager for Richard Burbidge, said: "Everyone was keen to do something for Children in Need and a dress up and down day was a fun way of getting people involved.

"If we achieve our fundraising target, then the company directors have promised to perform forfeits, from having a bath of beans to wearing a Liverpool football shirt - which for a Manchester United fan is a big deal. So, there's a real added incentive for people to donate."

An array of hats and wigs were also worn at Practice Plan in Oswestry, including flamboyant skiing hats, tiaras and wedding vales, Cher-inspired wigs and multi-coloured afros. Funds were raised from staff and visitor donations, as well as money raised from a cake sale.

Staff from Walford and North Shropshire College also did their bit, with catering staff dressed in this year's Pudsey spotted bandanas and "I'm with the Bear" T-shirts. They also wore Pudsey ears, and kept a collection tin in the refectory.

They also sold slush puppies yesterday and donated 50p for each one sold going to Children in Need.

Meanwhile, at the Walford Campus, the library staff took the theme of "Around the world in 80 days" in accordance with the BBC, and got jazzed up in full cultural costume.

Rosemarie Duxbury was decked out in an Indian sari, while June Jex went all tropical with a Hawaiian grass skirt and also a long blonde wig.

Customers at Greggs Bakery in Oswestry also dug deep to help. Store manager Peter Murray said collections and fundraising activities at the store raised more than £1,400.nextpage