MUSICAL maestros from the city have raised more than £20,000 for Children in Need.

Over the past 10 years Worcester Ukulele Club members, joined by Pudsey Bear, have entertained shoppers in Worcester’s Crowngate Shopping Centre on Children in Need Day.

This year they raised £1,205 in a four-hour buskathon.

The day was full of fun and laughter as many songs were played with passers-by joining in and dancing with Pudsey Bear.

The money donated by the generosity of people passing through the Bell Square area brought the 10-year busking total to £19,877.

This was added to the proceeds of the club’s regular Monday evening subs this week and a raffle to bring the total donated to Children in Need over the past 10 years to £20,327.50.

Twenty-five players entertained in Bell Square during both the morning and afternoon.

Worcester mayor Councillor Mel Allcott joined the players as they entertained and told members it was brilliant to have them there for their 10th Children in Need fundraising in Crowngate.

She wished the club “all the very best” for a great day and had her picture taken with Pudsey.

The club would like to thank the shoppers for their incredible generosity and the mayor for her support.

As the buskathon came to a close the collection buckets were rattling with the kind donations.

Ukulele player Rosemary Henman, who has organised the Children in Need buskathon for 10 years, said: “What fun we had at Bell Square, Crowngate, on Children in Need Day with Worcester Ukulele!

“We sang, played our ukes, danced and entertained an enthusiastic crowd for four hours.

“This was our 10th year of fundraising. Well done, Wuccies!”

The club is grateful for all Rosemary’s hard work over the years, to all the players who took part and generous members of the public as well as the Crowngate management for agreeing to host the fundraiser.