At the Midhurst Rother College in Midhurst and on the Easebourne site, an EastEnders stunt led the school's fundraising extravaganza and more than £1,000 was collected.

Teachers and pupils queued early at the school's Hush beauty salon where they were transformed into EastEnders, Waterloo Road, Casualty and Simpsons characters for the day.

Brave teachers even led their classes in costume.

A lunchtime show at Midhurst was the brainchild of Anita Hall, salon manager, and Fleur Llewellyn, beauty therapy subject leader.

Staff and sixth formers made up the cast for a crazy production with students making donations for the entrance fee and £1 for the privilege of wearing fancy dress representing their favourite soap opera stars.

Combining in-character acting with a game show format, on-stage antics involved staff volunteers and Years 10, 11 and sixth form teams pitching against one another.

There were mad games such as being wrapped in cling film, eating as many cream crackers in one minute as possible, finding an object at the bottom of a bowl of jelly and cream without using their hands and a marshmallow race.

The EastEnders characters included staff members Jane Kilpatrick as Grant Mitchell and Paul Thompson as Peggy Mitchell, Pat Butcher was played by Alex Witney, Jeff Smith became Dot Cotton, Claire Eastwood transformed herself into Bianca, Kim Cox into Heather Trott and Mark Philips into Shirley Wicks.

Jen Weeks took on the guise of Stacey Slater and Richard Brimacombe was Bradley Branning for the day.

Sixth formers Harry Challen and Nathan Warren became Roxy and Ronnie.
Youngsters from Midhurst Nursery Class raised nearly £600 selling an amazing 1,400 cakes to customers in shops throughout the town.

Nursery leader Chris Reseigh said: "The rain deluged down throughout the two hours we were out and everyone got very soggy, but we warmed up with dancing afterwards.

"Despite the rain we completely sold out and I am really sorry we didn't manage to get round to all our regular loyal customers before the cakes ran out.

"People are so generous, putting money into the buckets sometimes without even taking a cake. The support we get is absolutely marvellous and the mums were fantastic, making cakes, packing them up and helping get the children ready."

Mane Street hair salon in Midhurst raised a fantastic £250 by sponsoring one of their stylists to dress up as Pudsey for the day.
Pudsey travelled to Hollycombe Primary School and Milland Pre-school and walked around Midhurst town centre.

"Thanks to everyone who supported us," said proprietor Karen Williams. "We also held a raffle from which all the prizes were donated by local businesses."

There was plenty of talent on show at Caring Daycare in Midhurst when both children and staff dressed up as their favourite showbiz celebrities for the day.

Nursery manager Emma Mullis said: "We had lots of fun and raised money for Children in Need at the same time."

At Stedham Primary School children took part in a 'Hair and Bear' day.
Headteacher Hazel Morley said: "The older children and teachers arrived with weird and wonderful hairstyles and the youngest class all brought their bears in to raise some money."

"Children in two classes made special pots they sold during the day. The children and staff raised more than £140 towards Children in Need which was fantastic."

And in Cocking, owner of the Moonlight Cottage Tearooms, Sue Redshaw, organised a charity coffee morning and sold cakes and Pudsey Bear biscuits, helped by her seven-year-old daughter Millie. They raised £74.

At Conifers School children dressed in 'spotted mufti' for the day in return for a donation.

Even Bella, the newest member of school and already a firm four-legged favourite, made a spotty appearance by sporting a Children in Need neckerchief and spotted lead.

The school's cheerleaders performed a routine with Children in Need-coloured pompoms and the seniors put on a dance performance to Michael Jackson's thriller.

Staff and children at Harting pre-school and Harting Primary School paid for the privilege of staying in their pyjamas all day.

The pre-schoolers spent the week learning about Pudsey and the cause, creating educational games and hats based on the Pudsey design.

Headteacher of the primary school Johnny Culley commented: "It was a pleasure to work with pre-school on this joint fundraiser."

The total raised was £137.70.



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