PUDSEY mania hit Wyre Forest with generous residents helping to raise thousands of pounds for Children in Need.

Adults and children got into the fund-raising spirit by dressing up and baking cakes to boost the coffers of the annual appeal, which beat its record total this year after raising £31 million nationally.

It was fun galore as events were held throughout the day in aid of the appeal, which helps disadvantaged children and young adults in the UK.

Brintons in Kidderminster collected £7,500 after eight workers dressed up as sheep. The carpet manufacturer also held a charity football match and bake sale before staff headed off to the BBC studios in Birmingham to hand over the money.

It was hair today, gone tomorrow for Siobhan Clair, who had her 24-inch locks chopped into a short pixie style.

The 14-year-old Stourport High School and Sixth Form Centre pupil, who also delivers The Shuttle in the town, raised £100 for her efforts. She will also be donating her hair to Cancer Research UK to make wigs.

Keep-fit fanatics did their bit while working up a sweat at DW Sports Fitness, in Kidderminster, raising £120.

Meanwhile, pupils at Wolverley’s Heathfield School raised more than £500 when they presented an assembly, held a bakea- thon, battled it out in a netball match and dressed up as heroes and superheroes, Four talented youngsters, who are in a band called Vision, put pen to paper and wrote a song for Children in Need.

The Year Eight Stourport High School students – Chloe Davies, Jess McPhee, Becky Edwards and Kate Wright – recorded the song called Get Back Up (And Fight), which is available to download at shs-music.bandcamp.com, with all proceeds going to the appeal. People can also watch the video at youtube/ioTIT5BBAHE.

Parents of children in the Kidderminster Lions and Mostyn Rangers undersevens football team dusted off their boots and played a short match, raising £47.

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