County up for Children in Need

Generous Shropshire residents are taking part in a wealth of fundraising events today to help generate thousands of pounds for BBC Children in Need.

See also: Children in Need pictures

Bosses of the extravaganza, which includes a live telethon tonight, are hoping to beat last year's national total when more than the £18.3 million was raised because of the evening show.

In Shropshire a variety of events are taking place.

And it is not just fundraising that people in Shropshire will be doing to help ensure this year's event goes smoothly.BT's National Network Management Centre, in Oswestry, which is the eyes and ears of the UK's communications network, will be helping to ensure all goes well, with an extra 250,000 calls expected because of Children in Need from 7pm today.

In Shrewsbury, about 15 staff in the salon and coffee shop at K2 The Salon in the Darwin Shopping Centre will be donning pink pyjamas and waxing the chest and back of a man for the cause today.

Manager Jo Stephens said: "The girls wanted to do something for Children in Need and we're looking forward to a nice fun day."

Adam Jones, of Asda in Shrewsbury, joined members of the management team and department staff in the store car park yesterday for five-a-side games.

Paris Moore, 16, and Becky Brown, 17, from Telford, donned costumes and decorated their horses' reins in tinsel to ride up the Wrekin on horses, collecting £160.

Young carers from Telford's Carers Contact Centre were due to take part in a two-mile charity bed-push from Leegomery to Wellington today.

In Madeley, Shropshire Star reporter Abigail Bates will be putting her newly acquired hairdressing skills to the test on Sammy-Jo Davies at 5pm today at Dreams Salon, High Street, Madeley.

Meanwhile, 11-year-old Tayla Smith took part in a sponsored ski at Madeley Ski Slope and has already raised £40 for the cause.

And staff at Morrisons Wellington store were today holding activities including staff dressing up as Peter Pan characters, a book stall, a raffle and a tombola.

Telford hairdresser Sally Starkey, who has opened Hairdressing @ The Whitehouse in Wellington, following three years of mobile hairdressing, will be handing over half of the profits to the charity.

Pupils at Bridgnorth Endowed School have had a week long marathon of events, including an X-Factor competition, quizzes, cake sales, football matches between staff and sixth formers and much more.

Staff at Barclays Bank on Bridgnorth High Street went back to school for the day as everyone turned up for work in their school uniform and anyone who did not wear the costume had to pay a fine of £20 towards the donation bucket.

Kimberley Wells, who runs a dance class at William Brookes School, Much Wenlock, asked students to dress up in fancy dress and make a donation.

In Ellesmere, Daleks will be hurtling along Scotland Street tonight in a race hosted by All Models Ltd as part of a Dr Who event.

In Cheswardine, Pudsey Bear will make an appearance in the village at 3.15pm, where he will meet friends at Cheswardine School before making a collection.

In Wem on Sunday a dancing session is taking place at the Wem Sports and Social Club from 7.30-11.30pm, with admission costing £4.

Ludlow Junior School have been getting ready for the big day by designing outfits for Pudsey Bear, the Children in Need mascot, with pupils wearing something beginning with P.

Secretary Trish Minton said: "They can wear anything form their imaginations. We could see them arrive as pirates or in their pyjamas."

Lee Lewis, of Oswestry, was keeping his mouth shut with a sponsored silence, while staff and students at the Walford and North Shropshire College will be dressing up.

In Powys, young people in Brecon have already raised more than £125 with a fundraising disco at Harleys Nightclub organised by youth workers from Powys County Council.

The Radnorshire Arms Hotel, Presteigne, is holding a charity auction at 9.30pm tonight.

By John Kirk