GENEROUS volunteers across East Lancashire turned out in force to raise money for the annual Children in Need appeal.

Today the latest figures for the North West were still being counted, but the total should beat the amazing £690,217 counted last year.

Children, teachers, firemen and nurses joined in the fun and became volunteers in the race to collect cash for the appeal.

Pupils and staff at Oswaldtwistle's Rhyddings High School were given extra time in bed as they held a pyjama party to raise funds, and raised more than £1,000.

Joining in the fun at the Haworth Road school were Adele Nuttall, head of drama, and Jayne Perrott, head of music, who kept with the theme and dressed as giant bed bugs.

And children at the Crosshills Special School in Blackburn decided to have a change from their usual non-uniform day, and all the youngsters paid £1 to wear charity head gear in their caps-for-cash fund raiser.

Firefighters from Blackburn Fire Station's White watch made an exotic rickshaw, and raised money through sponsored rides. And the Childhood Studies department of Blackburn College must have broken the record for the number of events held, by organising a fancy dress street collection, car washes, a sponsored fun run around Corporation Park, and charity nail and face painting.

And children and staff at Pinky and Perkey's Day Nursery, Aspen Lane, Oswaldtwistle, turned up in their finest fancy dress.

The 'bells' of St Trinian's were ringing in Blackburn town centre, as three local schoolgirls collected for Children in Need. Becky Carysforth, Hayley Maxwell and Pam Young, all 15 and from Darwen Vale School braved the town's chilly streets.

A non uniform day at school. aims to raise about £1,000.