WEARING spots helped people across West Somerset raise lots of cash for the BBC's biggest fundraiser of the year - Children in Need.

Pudsey Bear was out in force for the annual extravaganza as people of all ages in schools and workplaces throughout the district supported the event.

They baked cakes and sported spotty outfits to bring in hundreds of pounds for a host of good causes and projects to help young people.

Staff at the Minehead branch of Webber's estate agents roped in relatives and friends for a bumper baking session that produced a wealth of home-made goodies.

Their fundraising spirit and the enthusiasm of customers who popped in to enjoy coffee and cakes raised a total of £343.81.

Sharon Jackman, one of seven staff who work in the office, said: "We were absolutely chuffed - we set ourselves a target of raising £100 but to have more than trebled it was fantastic."

A colouring competition in each class, a cake sale and wearing spotty clothes helped children at St Peter's First School in Williton raise £210, while youngsters at Crowcombe Primary School also adopted the spotty theme.

Their outfits, coupled with cake sales, brought in just over £105.

Meanwhile at Stogumber Primary, entrepreneur and tycoon Lord Sugar almost made an appearance.

In addition to making and selling cakes, the school staged its own version of the successful BBC series The Apprentice.

The children's task was to design a set of spotty clothing for boys, which was deemed to be thin on the ground.

With Lord Sugar on the end of a phone and apparently on his way to the school - but with his arrival delayed by an overturned combine harvester - the tycoon was eventually unmasked as a member of staff.

But the combined activities raised a total of £52.70p.

At the Minehead Visitor Information and Interpretation Centre, a coffee and cake sale brought in £92, while more coffee and cakes at Watchet's Little Vikings Centre - including a special Pudsey Bear cake donated by parent Shelley Hooper and a Pudsey mask making session raised £100.

Cakes, clothes and a 5ft picture of Pudsey's face helped sixth form students at the West Somerset Community College raise just over £164.

The sixth form executive organised a variety of fundraising events, including encouraging everyone to dress in something spotty, making spotty ribbons for sale, guessing the number of sweets in a jar and selling cakes.

But the most popular challenge was filling Pudsey's face with loose change, which saw some students even going home to raid their money boxes.

Meanwhile, the college council's charity working party encouraged students in years nine to 11 to wear hats, sport impressive hairstyles and decorate their faces as part of "Heads Up for Children in Need.'

They also persuaded three teachers to volunteer to put themselves forward for a potential 'gungeing.'

The honour went to Joe Shooter, who was narrowly chosen as the victim but then ensured that fellow teachers Marc Smith and Lynne Wooldridge shared his humiliation by embracing them both in a gungey hug.

Library staff were given the task of encouraging youngsters to use their spare change to fill an outline of Pudsey Bear, with the combined activities bringing in an additional £261.92, making the college's total contribution £426.16.