IT'S that time of year again! The time of year when we think of crazy ideas and put our hands in our pockets for the BBC's Children in Need.

This year got off to a cracking start when Diane Louise Jordan visited Blackpool as part of the Cracker Tour of the UK.

Yesterday (November 13), the ex-Blue Peter presenter visited Harry Ramsden's and the Blockbuster video store in the resort where she linked up with Radio Two's Ed Stuart for a junior edition of his Accumulator Quiz.

Jim Moir, controller of Radio Two, says: "Let's hope the nation gets into the spirit of things and goes crackers for Children in Need."

The tour continues until Saturday (November 16) and Diane will be visiting places stocking the Pudsey Cracker sold in aid of Children in Need.

Throughout the week hundreds of people across the Fylde will be raising money for this worthy cause.

One shop in particular which will be helping to raise lots of dosh is Sainsburys in Bispham.

All week it has had its very own Pudsey Bear in the foyer, greeting customers and persuading them to part with their cash for this deserving charity.

They will also be having a fancy dress pub crawl tonight (November 14) and a raffle, but the main event will be the Lorry Pull from Gynn Square to the lower promenade on Sunday (November 17) at 1pm.

Blackpool has benefited greatly from money raised from Children in Need, with the biggest award of £29,000 going to a scheme based in Blackpool which is aimed at bringing a positive approach to drug awareness for four to 11-year-olds.

The Fylde's Trinity Hospice has also been granted the sum of £20,000 for its children's unit.

So now is the time to start planning how you will be raising money for Children in Need.

You've got a week to go, so the crazier and the zanier your ideas, the better!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.