SCHOOLS and businesses across west Wiltshire took on the task of raising money for Children in Need today – with many dressing up as superheroes for the occasion.

Spiderman, Batman and Superman were just a few outfits worn by pupils at North Bradley Primary on Friday who have estimated to raise around £175.

Paxcroft Primary raised a similar amount with all 317 pupils and staff coming to school in their pyjamas.

At Wiltshire College in Trowbridge, foundations studies students were able to raise £68 from doing henna tattoos and selling onions bhajis in a joint event for Diwali and Children in Need.

Teacher Farida Ahmed-Sheehan said: “We were going to do something for Diwali and the students had planned and researched the topic and when Children in Need came along, we thought we would raise money it at the same time. We hired a Bollywood dancing instructor and we all got involved and then we went back to the classroom and did henna tattoos and made onion bhajis to sell.”

Other Wiltshire College students from Health & Social Care studies took part in a sponsored cycle and rowing event to raise money with Level 1, 2 and 3 taking it in turns to do five minute stints and make a donation.

While in Bradford on Avon Pudsey volunteers were out in force including town council staff who tried to spread a bit of magic in support of Children in Need with their cake sale by dressing up as Harry Potter, Willy Wonka, Barbie and Dennis the Menace.

Mayor Alison Craddock provided the team with a Victoria Sponge to go with their cupcakes, millionaire shortbread, polar bear cakes and flapjacks.

A great day was also had at Westwood Nursery School, according to its manager Dawn Bryant, where eight children dressed in their pyjamas where they made bracelets and necklaces and raised £30 to boot.

Fundraising efforts from St Laurence School, comprising a non-uniform day and a cake sale from the student council, has already raised more than £1200 and donations are still coming in.

Fitzmaurice Primary School and Churchfields Monkton Farleigh Base school kids dressed as their favourite superheroes from Batman to Robin, Superman to Batman and much more.

Westwood with Iford Primary School held a non-uniform day but as of yet the funds for these three schools have yet to be calculated.

Melksham schools also pitched in to raise money for the BBC telethon with pupils at River Mead having a pirate themed day with the whole school dressing as pirates and nominating a teacher to walk the plank into a paddling pool. So far the school has raised £202 but the total is still being calculated.

More than 309 children pupils from Forest and Sandridge School paid £1 to come into school in onesies or pyjamas and bought 20 pence cakes at break time.

Aloeric Primary did a variety of activities in aid of annual fundraiser with children dressing up in Pudsey outfits, selling Pudsey ears, doing a bear’s picnic, a treasure hunt, nature ramble with several other 10 pence games. The school is still collecting and will not have the figure until Monday.

Each child paid £1 to take part in an attempt to raise between £200 and £300 and the day finished with a big talk in the hall about the day.

Several other schools did mufti days, such as Melksham Oak, Shaw Primary and Manor primary where children will all pay £1 donations to come in.