A fundraising bug swept across Suffolk today as the county got into fundraising overdrive for Children In Need.

IT is the perfect excuse for madcap stunts and crazy capers.

Kind-hearted residents across Suffolk and Essex caught the fundraising fever for this year's Children In Need.

Organisers at the BBC are expecting to break last year's record breaking grand total of �38million.

Hundreds of schools and work places across the region hosted Pudsey bear inspired events, and swapped their uniforms for fancy dress or pin-striped suits for pyjamas.

At Broke Hall Primary School in Ipswich, staff and pupils ditched uniforms for spotty clothes and had a special guest appearance from Pudsey.

Headteacher Richard Griffiths said: “We had lots of Pudsey related events going on throughout the day - from cake sales and fancy dress, to a special Pudsey bear picnic and errand running.

“The children have organised everything and I'm so proud of them - children are very inventive and they've taken the lead on this, we hope to raise a good amount of money.”

Children at a Suffolk pre-school were treated to a bit of summer sun to brighten up a grey Friday as they enjoyed a themed indoor beach party.

Palm trees and sand were brought inside by staff at the Acorns Children Centre, held at the Stowmarket Opportunity Group in Chilton Way and children wore their holiday clothes.

Charlotte Harrison, a family support practitioner at the centre, said: “It went very, very well.

“The girls had done a bake-off and they had lots of cakes to sell. We had a big singing session to start off the day with some summery songs and then we put the Pudsey bears on the trampoline and were doing some jumping with them.

“We had sand indoors and the water as well. The children did enjoy themselves and we had palm trees and beach balls and inflatables - it was great fun.”

Pupils at Saint Felix's Junior School in Southwold also wore spotty clothes for the day, raising over �70.

Four-year-old Jack Wilmot from the reception class even went as far to dress up as Pudsey - complete with furry suit and teddy bear ears.

Meanwhile Ipswich friends Daniel Colthorpe and Michael White, both 24, managed to raise over �200 by having their legs waxed for Pudsey.

Daniel of St Anthonys Crescent, Ipswich, said: “I was a bit scared about it because I've got quite hairy legs. I couldn't back out after I started all the fundraising.”

Two brave members of staff at Willis also opted to lose hair for the charity - by having their head shaved.

Chris Panting and Alex Jacobs, who work in the national claims department, successfully managed to raise hundreds of pounds. Other events took place across Willis which is expected to have exceeded �1,000 worth of donations.

At St Louis Middle School in Bury St Edmunds, more than �400 was raised by a group of enterprising students.

Year 8s Charles Dodd, Auberon Limmer, Sam Townsend and Dominic Turner and Year 7s Kiana Carmichael and Rhiannon Townsend set up their stall at the school on Monday and have been running it each day to raise cash for Children in Need.

They raised �435.43 by selling cakes, marshmallows and pre-prepared “goody bags” to fellow students.

School spokeswoman Pam Pitts said: “They've done really well. They set this up themselves and have been running it every day to raise a great amount of money.”

At Suffolk County Council a competition for the best fundraiser was underway.

The battle between Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council and Customer Service Direct, saw staff take part in a frenzy of fairground style activities, including tug-of-war and hula hooping.

Deben High School in Felixstowe also took part in the nationwide fundraiser by dressing done and hosting cake stalls, games, face painting and leg waxing.

At Colchester Sixth Form College many staff and students came in Hollywood-themed fancy dress with the philosophy department spending the day dressed as cowboys.

Students took advantage of the event to throw custard pies at their tutors at lunchtime.

The pie throwing was organised by the student charities' committee and its president Charlotte Steele.

Students voted for members of staff who they wanted to see with a custard pie in their face and the tutor groups who donated the most money were given the chance deliver the pies.

Amongst staff brave enough to volunteer were Steve Flowerday and Stephen Barnes, both of whom donned Ghostbusters-style protective gear for the occasion.

Miss Steele said: “We're really pleased with the support we've had from staff and students today and hope to raise well over three hundred pounds

To donate money to Children in Need visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudseyTo donate money to Children in Need visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudseyTo donate money to Children in Need visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudseyTo donate money to Children in Need visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudseyTo donate money to Children in Need visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey