FUNDRAISERS throughout the Malvern and Ledbury area are gearing up for a week of Children In Need events in the run-up to next Friday's annual Telethon.

From the bizarre to the fun-packed, activities will go on right up to Friday as people rally round for the popular charity event, this year with a Raise a Smile slogan.

Among those helping to push the total past the £20 million raised last year will be Malvern auctioneer Phillip Serrell, who has already paid well over the odds for his own scarf!

Mr Serrell advises contestants on daytime BBC programme Bargain Hunt. As part of the Children in Need edition of the programme he was urged to give something up for charity. He bought a new Burberry scarf for £75, and put it up for the auction during the programme. He then paid £110 for it.

The programme, which features contestants hunting bargains from a sale at Malvern's Three Counties Show-ground, will be broadcast on Friday.

A group of employees who work on Malvern's QinetiQ site will be raising money next Friday by having their beards and moustaches shaved off.

Divine Hairdressers will be doing the honours for seven workers from Honeywell Amey.

Another group of employees will also be raising money by enjoying their midday meal in style, dressed up in evening wear with candelabras on the tables.

Olive Porter, who lives in Malvern, will be holding a sale of novelty aprons for a fundraiser at her home in 15, Clerkenwell Crescent on the same day from 10.30am until noon.

Malvern's HSBC bank is hoping to raise more than £1,000 for Children in Need this year with a quiz night at the Police Social Club in Victoria Road on Thursday from 7.30pm.

Thirty teams from the local community are taking part in the event and members are paying £5 a head to take part. HSBC has pledged to double the takings from the event.

Another bank is holding a fundraising "guess the baby" competition today (Friday).

NatWest Bank Branches in Ledbury and Bromyard will test customers on matching members of staff to their baby photographs.