CHILDREN and adults across Wiltshire are helping to raise funds for this year’s BBC Children in Need appeal.

Pupils at Seend Church of England Primary School raised £192.40 after the school council organised a bring and buy sale today, selling donated books, toys, DVDs and cakes.

At the Trowbridge Oak Care Home in West Ashton Road, Trowbridge, staff and pupils from the Oasis Academy Primary School at Longmeadow attended a Children in Need party with some of the 43 residents.

Staff dressed up as Pudsey Bear, while others dressed as characters from comic books, children's fairy tales, and a cheerleader.

Helen Meaden, the home's activities coordinator, said: "We're hoping to raise more than £100 from the party to support the Children in Need appeal."

Residents and children from the Oasis Academy also took part in a music workshop with Karen Owen from Musica, a social enterprise group.

In Westbury, staff at Dentons Digital Marketing Agency wore spots, dots and polka dots to raisde funds for the appeal. The whole team got involved, whether it was through wearing something spotty, dotty, or both!

Chris Birleson, Director of Dentons Digital, said: “Children in Need is a brilliant charity, with a cause which is dear to everyone’s hearts.

"We love to do our bit here at Dentons Digital, and as well as it being for a great cause, it brings the whole team together too!”

Tonight, members of the Trowbridge Wessex Rotary Club stage a gala dinner and charity auction at the Civic Centre to raise funds for the appeal.

Former president Andy Barlow says: “We're hoping to raise more than £2,500 for the appeal."

Meanwhile, BBC Wiltshire staff have been pulling a giant Great Bustard bird around five Wiltshire towns and cities - Trowbridge, Swindon, Chippenham, Malmesbury and Salisbury – in the run up today.

The giant replica of the iconic Wiltshire bird has been attached to a trailer and hand-pulled 50 miles, over five days, by a team of staff including breakfast show presenter Ben Prater.

Throughout this week, the team have visited schools, businesses and town centres where locals were encouraged to ‘Stuff the Bustard’ with money to raise funds for BBC Children in Need.

The BBC Wiltshire team visited Trowbridge on Monday, Swindon on Tuesday, Chippenham on Wednesday, Malmesbury on Thursday and are in Salisbury today.

The BBC Children in Need Appeal supports ten projects across Wiltshire with funding of more than £449,000.

They include projects like Wiltshire Portage which benefits from a three-year grant of £30,000 to provide outreach support to families with pre-school children experiencing developmental delays and difficulties.

Through the programme of play-based activities children are supported to improve their social and communication skills whilst having fun and making friends.

The BBC’s Children in Need television appeal takes place tonight and loads of stars are helping out with this year’s show.

The programme this evening will be hosted by Tess Daly, Ade Adepitan, Graham Norton, Mel Giedroyc and telly presenting couple Marvin and Rochelle Humes.

Since the annual fundraiser started in 1980 it has raised more than £1 billion for disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

During tonight’s live TV show, there will be lots going on, such as a special Strictly Come Dancing competition with four soap stars competing for the Pudsey Glitterball trophy.

EastEnders actors Ricky Champ, Louisa Lytton, Maisie Smith and Rudolph Walker will be taking to the dancefloor alongside the Strictly professionals.

Star Wars fans should look out for some of the cast of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, while Daisy Ridley and John Boyega challenge YouTuber Colin Furze to make a real working land-speeder from the first movie.

Famous celebrities will take part in a one-off red chair game with Graham Norton. The comedian and BBC presenter will be joined by three young carers who get control of the lever to tip celebrity joke-tellers out of the red chair.

There will be loads of live singing performances with Louis Tomlinson and Westlife among the stars appearing.

Some of the England men’s football team will also make an appearance. England captain Harry Kane, as well as Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, will be seen surprising children from the England Amputee Football Association, which is one of the organisations that receives funding from the appeal.