Challenges galore to aid Pudsey

Thousands of people around Shropshire have been taking part in a wealth of different activities to raise much-needed money for BBC Children in Need.

See also: Children in Need pictures

Across the county, people dressed up in silly clothes and wigs and took part in all sorts of challenges to encourage people to donate as much money as possible.

Visitors to Sutton Hill Community Centre helped raise £114 by buying raffle tickets. Tickets were sold from TJ's Cafe and hairdressers Altered Image.

And Sally Starkey celebrated opening her new hair salon at the Whitehouse Hotel, in Wellington, by handing over 50 per cent of the price of hair treatments to the charity.

Staff at Morrisons supermarket in Wellington were hoping shoppers would dig deep as they donned outfits from children's favourite story, Peter Pan, throughout yesterday.

Children at the Old Hall School, in Wellington, raised £464 after filling a huge drawing of Pudsey Bear with cash donations from friends and family.

Staff from Nock Deighton estate agents in Telford Town Centre visited workplaces dressed up as super- heroes and in other fancy dress guises and raised nearly £500.

More than 100 children at Central Park Nursery, in Telford, dressed in pyjamas and wellies for the day. The youngsters, aged up to five years, have also been baking cakes to sell.

Staff at Barclays Bank in Bridgnorth went back to school for the day in their uniforms in the name of charity. Anyone who did not don their school uniform was made to pay a £20 donation towards the charity.

Welsh Premier Champions The New Saints FC added their support when players took to the streets of Oswestry before yesterday's match to collect donations.

They then returned to their ground in Park Hall, Oswestry, to continue the fundraising effort before, during and after their match against Newtown AFC.

TNS general manager Ian Williams said: "Children in Need is a terrific cause. We will be looking to donate a hefty sum from the club and both sets of fans."

Staff at Gwylim Hughes and partners, in Oswestry, donned red and yellow fancy dress outfits.

Meanwhile the town's Bellan House School went dotty in spotty outfits. The youngsters also held a spotty cake sale.

Llanwyddyn School pupils handcuffed themselves to their best friends during lessons on Friday, and rucks of sponsorship money poured in from staff and relatives.

A 10ft papier-mache man was wheeled around Craven Arms yesterday, accompanied by Pudsey Bear. The model was made by artist Janice Barratt as part of a community art project called Face It.

People in the town were encouraged to add to the artwork. Artist Carl Jaycock was due to take photographs of them helping out in return for a donation to the cause.

At RAF Shawbury, two Central Air Traffic Control School's flight system operators (FSOs) had their legs waxed to raise cash.

Watched by their colleagues Steve Hussey, from Walton, near Shawbury, and Matt Watkin, from Calverhall, steeled themselves for the ordeal.

The event, which raised £150 from sponsorship, was organised by fellow FSO Vicky Banker, from Shrewsbury, who also had a go using the wax strips which were supplied by Ooh La la at the Body Tech studio in Shrewsbury. Flight Lieutenant Neil Hope and Corporal Jason Lee from the RAF Shawbury air traffic control tower collected £545 from employees coming through the main gate on their way to work.

Students at the Grove School in Market Drayton donated £1 each for the privilege of going to school in non-uniform and joined in a mass dance of Greased Lightning.

Staff at Asda in Shrewsbury got into the spirit of things with five-a-side football games and raised £229.72.

Workers at the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre, Shrewsbury, dressed up as pirates for the day and collected money from the public.

By Rebecca Lawrence