SCHOOLCHILDREN, teachers, dancers and estate agents were just some of the people who decided to "show their spots" for this year's record-breaking Children in Need Appeal.

Across West Somerset, people of all ages went to work or school in fancy dress, held fundraising cake sales and organised money-spinning events, activities and entertainment.

Nationally, the appeal raised more than £26.7 million on the day itself, with the money due to be used to support a wide range of children's projects and organisations across the UK.

In West Somerset, fancy dress was the order of the day for many school pupils, including youngsters at Danesfield Middle School who helped to raise £600 by swapping their uniforms for casual clothes.

They also made cakes, organised fundraising games and competitions, including name the bear.

Budding chefs at St Peter's First School in Williton also used the power of cakes to raise money with a fundraising cake sale, as did staff at Webbers estate agents in Minehead.

Their counterparts at Webbers in Dulverton went that one step further and crafted elaborate hand-made cakes in the shape of properties currently being marketed by the agency.

Branch manager Noel Sexton and fellow staff Amber Kirby, Louise Garner and Julie Eva slaved over their mixing bowls and ovens to produce their masterpieces, which were auctioned off in aid of the appeal.

Schoolchildren at both Stogumber and Crowcombe Primary Schools were able to practically roll out of bed and straight into their classrooms as both schools staged pyjama parties.

Children and teachers wore their nightclothes to school and enjoyed a host of activities to raise money for the appeal.

Meanwhile, in Minehead, students at the West Somerset Community College in Minehead organised a range of fundraising events.

Some paid 50p to exchange the bottom half of their uniforms for more colourful attire, while others were tempted by a Pudsey bear biscuit sale during the mid-morning break.

At lunchtime, year nine students organised a beat the keeper challenge, Segway rides, a treasure hunt and musical performances.

Dancers from the Manda Clarke School of Dancing, Oasis and D.r.e.a.m.s. Performing Arts all took part in a Tapathon at the Minehead Eye on Sunday as part of a world record attempt by light-footed Children in Need supporters.

The aim was to set a new world record for the largest tap dance in multiple venues in the UK and at exactly 1pm everyone danced a set routine to the music of Olly Murs, Dance with Me Tonight.

The event was raising funds for Children in Need and many of the dancers bought specially designed Tapathon t-shirts for the appeal, Manda Clarke and her pupils raised a further £30 on the day, and proceeds of a raffle, face painting, guess the name of a bear and further donations totalled £75.