YOUNGSTERS, businesses and school pupils across Worcestershire dressed up in eye-catching outfits and found fun ways to support this year's BBC Children in Need appeal.

The whole nation came together for the popular annual fundraiser on Friday, with children across the county taking part in various fundraising initiatives and enjoying the annual Friday night television show last night.

Worcester's npower office was set to be an official call centre throughout the night, preparing to take thousands of donations calls.

In the county, Jason Leach was part of the team at CrossFit Wyre Forest that successfully completed a challenge to do 12 workouts in 12 hours.

Eight of the fitness fundraisers completed the fundraising challenge, with the last workout at 6pm. Each workout had to use 250 to 300 calories, with the aim for a total of 2,500 to 3,100 calories burned throughout the day.

Seven-year-old Jacob Williams, from Callow End Primary School, raised more than £320 in a sponsored silence

Meanwhile Felix and Charlie Freeman did a week of baking for Children in Need.

Mum, Ida, said: "In 2015 Felix listened to the radio and was so touched by all the good work that Children in Need does for other children and he wanted to help, he asked me if he could do something and I said yes.

"He decided to do a 200m swim which to him was a challenge and raised £1000.20. He ended up on the BBC Children in Need evening on the TV and was able to meet some of the children that Children in Need help.

"This year they both wanted to do something and decided that in the short notice that we had we would do some baking, to date they have single handedly baked 107 cup cakes with more to come. We held a big cake sale at the Elms School.

"Felix is 10 and Charlie is 7, they have both been very passionate about doing this and have put a lot of effort into it. They made their own posters and are hoping to raise over £300 - that is a lot of cupcakes."

For the fifth year in a row Cherry Cabin Pre-School raised money for Children in Need by holding sponsored fundraising events including a Pudsey Bear Bake Off, sing and signalong with Pudsey session and a 'Hey Duggee' Disco Dance Party.

11 year old Amelia-May also made and sold bracelets overall raising £201.50.

Last year's appeal nationally raised an amazing £50 million, and organisers had ambitions to beat that again this year.

The charity has a vision that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood and the chance to reach their potential.

Children in Need supports more than 2,600 projects in communities across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma.

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