York folk get out and about to bring in the cash on Pudsey bear's biggest night of year.

GRISLY scenes took place in York as fundraising for Pudsey Bear proved a roaring success.

Grown men gritted their teeth as they had the hair stripped from their legs across the city.

Male students had their legs waxed at York College, but no-one seemed to mind too much as they threw a huge party and had a great time raising money.

Students dressed up and partied throughout the day with everybody from furry tigers to school girls strutting their stuff at the charity karaoke on the college's sixth-form campus.

Craig Laskey, president of the college's Students' Union ,explained: "We try to do something for Children in Need every year.

"Every year we try to make it bigger and better than ever before.

"Last year we raised £400 from a karaoke that was only half the size of this year's event.

"We're hoping for even more this year, and we're already well on the way."

But the college wasn't the only place in York, where the scenes were of a hair-raising nature.

Staff at HSBC Bank arranged for their area manager, Mark Vines, to get the full leg-waxing treatment in front of customers in the bank's foyer in Parliament Street.

BBC Radio York also helped the bank organise a huge line dance through St Sampson's Square and Parliament Street, with both shoppers and staff taking part.

Meanwhile, money poured in from the region's children as they took part in all sorts of events to raise money.

Pupils at Upper Poppleton Junior School popped out of their uniforms and raised £500 for the appeal. They paid £1 for their non-uniform day, but Class 6C took things one step further by not even bothering to get out of their pyjamas.

Karen Richmond, 6C's form teacher, came up with the idea which raised more than £400.

Special mention must go to Alex Almanack, aged ten, who raised £100 and to Miss Richmond, who didn't let the class down by spending the day in pyjamas as well.

At Carr Infant School, Ostman Road, in Acomb, the nursery children made badges and biscuits which they then sold to older pupils, raising £100.

Ann McKeown, the school's headteacher said: "They've had a whole Pudsey Day. They've been painting Pudsey pictures and collages, making Pudsey badges, biscuits and hats. It's been a lot of fun."

Elsewhere in the city, belly dancers and piano-players tuned in to Pudsey's act.

Lynne Kirk and Sam Bach wiggled for money along Parliament Street, York, at lunchtime yesterday.

Meanwhile Judith Holmes-O'Brien journeyed across the region with BBC Radio York's Andrew Barton visiting schools, soldiers and office staff.

On Micklegate, pianist Vanessa Simmons, struck the right note for charity with a 12-hour musical marathon at Walkers Bar.

Vanessa raised hundreds of pounds for the charity by playing requests in exchange for donations to the appeal.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to Children In Need can contact the pledge-line 08457 332233.