The people of this region are once again having bags of fun raising money for this year's Children in Need charity.

The television appeal takes place on BBC1 tomorrow night, and fundraisers all over the county are getting into the spirit, with a host of wacky events.

Staff at the Drifters fish and chip shop on Oak Street, Fakenham, always make a big effort with their fancy dress.

This year they will be dressing up as giant items of food, with a bottle of mustard, beer and a bunch of grapes set to greet customers on the day.

East City and Framingham Earl Area SureStart Children's Centre, in Duckett Close, Norwich, raised �400 with a bingo night last Friday, named Bingo Wings and Bangers.

They will be outside The Forum tomorrow to hand over a cheque for Children In Need.

In north Norfolk, the landlord of the Vernon Arms in Southrepps, Paul Briggs, will be wearing a dress and heels if �300 is raised at his evening of live music on Friday night, which he says should be less painful than last year, when he had his chest waxed.

The Forum, in Norwich, has for the first time a full scale shop in the BBC reception selling a wide range of merchandise.

Tonight it will be open to coincide with the Norwich City Centre Christmas lights switch on and Pudsey will be there all evening, taking donations.

At City College Norwich, Ipswich Road, the staff at the Students' Union will be holding a mad hatters tea party tomorrow.

Pudsey the Bear will also be travelling across the county in the BBC Radio Norfolk Radio Car visiting a number of events, look out for him at yours.

Children in Need will be on BBC1 tomorrow from 7pm-2am.

Hellesdon High School, on Middleton's Lane, will be the venue for a fitness fun day in aid of Children in Need on Saturday. The school's gym will play host to a day of keep fit fun for all ages and levels of fitness.

Between 9.30am and 5pm there will be circuit training, aerobics, kettlebell fitness, a bootcamp style session and a legs, bums and tums workout.

Children aged five and above are welcome to accompany their parents in the circuit training and aerobics classes. The event is free but a �3 donation per person, per class is invited.

Matt Philpot is the gym insructor holding the event. He said: 'At the end of the day these children don't get what we do; they aren't as privileged as us. Norwich is definitely a good place to do this, as long as you can get the word out there people are up for it.'

You can turn up on the day or book by contacting Mr Philpot on 07785 105381.

Once again, EDP publisher Archant will be doing its bit for Children in Need with a raffle, cakes courtesy of Olive Catering and a wide selection of books and CDs for staff to purchase. Raffle tickets will be sold to staff, with various prizes including a signed Norwich City Premiership team football, which is sure to attract some high bids.

A special visit to a Lowestoft primary school has helped kick-start a fundraising drive.

And as hundreds of people across Waveney prepare to join in the fun as part of the annual event, some lucky Lowestoft youngsters have been buoyed by a visit from Pudsey Bear.

Attracting plenty of smiles, lots of cuddles and waves, Pudsey Bear was a welcome guest to the school assembly at Gunton Primary School last Thursday .

And Pudsey's visit has seen the youngsters, parents and staff combine to bake cakes for a special sale, buy raffle tickets and hold a non-uniform day today. The school held an assembly with Pudsey as special guest, who was high-fiving or hugging every child in the school as they left the assembly hall.

Haulage firm Norfolk Truck and Van, in Norwich, is covering a van in brightly coloured spots and charging businesses �100 to sponsor a spot.

They have raised �2,500 so far and have high hopes of beating last years total of �4,000.

They will be taking the van round different supermarkets drumming up funds. They will be at The Forum tomorrow.

Hannah Colby, sales and marketing manager for the company, said: 'It is a really nice event as it shows the generosity of lots of local businesses; it's not just us. People have been very generous, we have already raised well over half our target amount.'

The enterprising pupils of Fairhaven Primary School on School Road, South Walsham, have been busy baking all week.

They have been making biscuits, chocolate cookies and suitably spotty shortbread and buns, getting ready to sell like hot cakes for Children in Need.

Tomorrow afternoon, parents and friends will visit the school to have a cup of tea or coffee, with a chat, and most importantly buy biscuits with all proceeds going to the charity.

Janice Dix, acting head of the school, said: 'They have really enjoyed it, they have all had a chance to participate.

'We believe they should all be involved in the charity work we do. It is good for making them to see they are a part of the wider world and their role in it.'

Workers at Validus Business Consultants, in Princes Street, Norwich, had their legs and chests waxed yesterday for Children in Need. Managers Jason Gregson, 39, from Thorpe St Andrew and Nick Foster, 44, from Caistor St Edmund, were joined by claims analyst Tristen Watson, 32, from Lowestoft, for the event.

The trio showed dedication to the cause by having their legs and chest waxed in front of a crowded office.

Mr Gregson was the first to survive the ordeal. He said: 'Painful, very painful. It's all good fun, though.

'I didn't take much convincing; I'm a sucker for punishment, especially for this cause.'

They raised �700 which the company topped up to �1,000.

Students, staff and some celebrity guests will be cycling the classic 834 miles from John O'Groats to Land's End without travelling an inch at City College Norwich City tomorrow.

Norwich City FC legends Darren Huckerby and Darren Eadie will join Richard Howitt MEP for a go on some static exercise pedal bikes at 4pm.

Students and staff will take it in turns along with the special guests to complete the gruelling challenge.

Labour's Mr Howitt, who promises he will be dressed in the trademark Pudsey bandana, said: 'I'm gearing up for a tough challenge on Friday.'

The college is also printing two 1.5m banners emblazoned with their logo and Pudsey Bear, for people to pay to put their hand print on, along with their name and message.

If you want to join in, go to the College reception on the day and asked to be directed.

Thorpe House Langley Preparatory School, in Yarmouth Road, Thorpe St Andrew, will be having a wear your spots to school day for Children in Need.

Tomorrow, their pupils will be paying �1 for every item of clothing replaced with a spotty one.

They will also be holding a Bake and Make for Goodness Sake stall where the children will sell their spotty buns.

Headteacher Simon Marfleet said: 'The school has been engaged in charity events all year; we held a singathon for African students and filled shoe boxes with gifts for Romanian orphans. Even so we thought we should still try and at least do something for Children in Need. It is such an important charity.'