IT IS that time of year when our favourite bear Pudsey pays a visit to the community and vital funds are raised for charity.

Today, Children in Need will air its appeal to raise money for the charity that helps disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

Many celebrations and fundraising activities have taken place already this week.

At Pitmaston Primary School, in Worcester, the students have currently raised the highest amount of funds from a Worcester primary school, raising £1,480.

Unless they are overtaken, they hope to be the highest fundraiser among county schools.

The 9th Worcester Rainbows and Brownies held a fundraising event, raising a total of £120.28.

They offered an array of activities for children and parents including a Blue Peter bring and buy sale, guess the name of the teddy, a cake sale and refreshments, as well as a competition to see how many hand prints could fit on Pudsey.

The BBC’s first ever broadcast appeal for children was a five-minute radio broadcast on Christmas Day in 1927.

There was a huge response and it raised £1,143 which was split between four prominent children’s charities.

Pudsey Bear made his television debut in 1985. So far over £800 million has been raised for the charity.

Have you got any photos with Pudsey you would like to share? Send them to the Worcester News reporter Grace, at grace.walton@newsquest.co.uk