FUND-RAISERS around Crow country brought in the cash for Children in Need in a mixture of ways last Friday.

Village parties, dressing-up, bike-rides, treasure hunts, collections and competitions were all held around the region, to raise money for the BBC-organised charity.

The largest donation reported to The Crow came from the annual Pudsey Party, held in Steeple Morden.

An impressive �3,000 was raised on the night, which was attended by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, with singing, dancing, games and a bar all bringing in the pennies.

Bob Gilbert, a member of the Morden Players, who organise the event, said: “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everybody who worked so hard to make the event the great success that it turned out to be.

“I am very proud to be part of the Morden Players, an organisation which my wife Margaret and I founded 25 years ago, for all the pleasure which they have given to so many people, and all of the charitable causes which have been supported in that period.”

The Royston Rotary Club pecked a few pockets by collecting at Royston Cross – all while dressed as a chicken.

Les Baker and Ken Charles suffered the fate for the cause, and managed to raise over �1,300 in the process.

Staff at Barclays bank in Royston should know a thing or two about money, and they proved it by raising �706.14.

An exercise was put in the bank’s foyer, and staff took turns to ride for 30 minutes each, until they reached 57 miles – the distance to their head office at Canary Wharf.

Branch manager Neil Price said: “All the staff at Barclays Royston were fully behind the fund-raising event for Children in Need.

“Customers have been incredibly generous and the total raised included matched fund-raising under Barclays’ community scheme.”

Melbourn lollypop lady Angela Winter dressed up as Pudsey Bear and gave out lollypops that had been donated by Melbourn Village Store to children, and took in a total of �85.

“The children and parents have been very supportive. William Harwood-Hughes who attends Melbourn Primary School suggested that I give a lollypop to every child who crosses with me, and I thought it would be a great idea.”

Meanwhile, two pupils from Melbourn Primary used their engine-uity by collecting at their karting club.

Elio D’Alessandro, 11, and his brother Marco, 5, made a money box and received donations of �355 at Hoddesdon Kart Club, where they are both members.

“I am so proud of the boys. It was a great effort to raise what they did for a good cause,” said their father Jon.

Pupils at Therfield First School each donated money to dress up in spotted clothes and complete a spot hunt on the village cricket pitch.

Teacher Charlotte Oram said: “Hidden around the pitch were different spots spelling out Children in Need. The children had to collect the spots in groups or pairs working together with the younger children, and they managed to carry this out in record time.”

Tannery Drift School in Royston held a similar event, with children bringing in their favourite teddies and designing t-shirts. They raised �140.62.

Royston Leisure Centre joined in by raising �204.61 by holding a spot the ball competition, and selling half price personal training sessions.