THIS year's Children in Need appeal inspired adults and children in the Malvern Hills area to raise money in all sorts of different ways.

Children wore pyjamas, played the violin and dressed up their teddies, all for Pudsey Bear.

Adults donned fancy dress, devoured bacon rolls and one man even agreed to shave off his beard to raise money for the annual BBC appeal.

Musical Malvern youngsters aged from four to 11, who have been using the Suzuki method to learn how to play a stringed instrument, performed at Malvern Theatres in a sponsored musical marathon. They raised more than £100 for the appeal.

Pudsey, the Children in Need mascot, dropped in to listen to the children play as many tunes as they could in an hour.

At Malvern Wells Primary School, pupils and staff raised a total of £420 through a sponsored fitness session and pyjama day on Thursday, November 17.

"It was something the children thought of and decided to do themselves," said headteacher Kevin Wright.

Staff at shops, offices and businesses in Malvern made donations to Children in Need in return for breakfast at their desks on Friday morning.

Staff from Holland Funeral Services delivered the hot bacon rolls to workplaces in the town, raising £253 for Children In Need.

Kwiksave butchers M and M Meats donated the bacon and businesses were able to phone and fax their orders to the firm, whose staff cooked and delivered them.

"It was very popular and a nice way to raise money for Children In Need," said Holland's community manager Hilary Al Rasheed.

Toddlers at Welland Pre-School dressed up themselves and their teddies for Children in Need and raised £24.

"The children enjoyed dressing up and we had a fancy dress competition for their teddy bears," said pre-school chairman Sarah Husband.

Students at Malvern Hills College's hair and beauty department also got dressed up.

Cowboys and cowgirls, dancers and police officers collected £322 for Children In Need.

David Newton, who works at the One Stop store in Barnards Green, volunteered to have his beard shaved off in return for donations to the TV appeal. Donations from family, friends, work colleagues and customers raised £135.