FROM baking cakes to being gunged, the North-East came out in force to support Children in Need day on Friday.

Schoolchildren, staff and parents pulled out all the stops across the region’s schools.

Pudsey the Bear made his rounds while also roping in some special guests including the presenters of Blue Peter and an Olympic medallist to do fundraising challenges.

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Osmotherley Primary School pupils greet Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya

The fundraising got off to a flying start as presenters Barney Harwood, Lindsey Russell and Radzi Chinyanganya braved cold and wet weather as they cycled between Swainby and Potto and Osmotherley schools, near Northallerton, accompanied by Callum Skinner, who won a silver medal in the individual sprint and gold in the team sprint at the Rio Olympics.

Staff at Osmotherley Primary said “excitement levels went through the roof” when the TV presenters cycled into the North York Moors village as part as of their Try-Athlon challenge, which saw them cover more than 100 miles by rowing, cycling and running.

The presenters were given a recipe by pupils Daisy Pitts and Charlie Morton and spent time chatting and giving high fives to all the pupils who had waited in the cold to see them.

After the fundraisers set off to complete their challenge at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, near Wakefield, Charlie said: “My dream has come true to see them here at our school.”

Assistant headteacher Jane Bamber said: “What a fantastic surprise it was to receive the call from the BBC to say that Pudsey and the presenters were coming to visit our small village school.

"We feel very honoured that they chose to stop by and it was a day the children will never forget. Pupils have also raised money for Children in Need by holding a non-uniform day, a spotty treasure hunt and a spotty bake sale.”

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A staff versus students football match in aid of Children in Need at Park View Community School, Chester-le-Street. Picture: TOM BANKS

More celebrities also came out to show their support as members of Sunderland AFC’s first team, Vito Mannone and Steven Pienaar, represented the club’s official charity, Foundation of Light, to meet pupils at Barbara Priestman Academy, in Sunderland, to see how the Foundation’s ‘Making Moves’ programme is helping the children at the school.

Foundation of Light has received funding from Children in Need since 2006 and the organisation has been one of the Foundation’s ‘Making Moves’ team longest supporters.

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Sunderland AFC footballers raise money for Children in Need

Making Moves provides opportunities for thousands of youngsters and children who have a wide range of disabilities such as Down’s Syndrome, Autism, Asperger’s, hearing impairment, visual impairment and wheelchair users to take part in a variety of sports and activities.

Goalkeeper Mannone praised the programme and the work of Children in Need and Foundation of Light.

He said: “It’s very important for the club to come to places like this and it was nice to surprise the kids and play a few games with them.

“It brought back memories of when I was at school playing and I could see the passion of the kids and teachers who do a great job teaching them important life skills.

“It is good to give something back to the fans and community.”

Meanwhile pupils at Elemore Hall School, near Pittington, walked, ran, cycled and rowed to smash their target for the charity.

The special school youngsters were inspired by BBC’s One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge to try and cover 470 miles during a week.

But they enjoyed the challenge so much, they ended up going more than 700 miles and have so far raised £98.

Year 9 pupil, Taylor James Martin, 13, was also given a special award for sportsmanship.

Learning support assistant, Ruth Perriss, said: “We usually do something for Children in Need but this year we wanted to do something a bit different.

“We started on Monday and they’ve been doing it every break and lunch time and in the evening – they’ve been so competitive but encouraging of each other well. Because of the nature of the school this is the first time they’ve done their own sponsorship.

“They’ve raised £98 and I’m quite hopeful it will do well next week as well. But it’s not all about the money – it’s about the passion and drive they’ve had to do something. It’s been fantastic.”

Headteacher Richard Royle added: “It’s been tremendous. We are a special school and all of our children are children in need but we do a lot of charity events and they always give lots of effort and they all contribute, even though they don’t have a lot.”

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Cross fit gym members row 1,000,000 metres for Children in Need. Picture: TOM BANKS

And at the CrossFit gym, in Chester-le-Street, members set out to row one million metres – or the equivalent of 620 miles.

Sam Marshall who owns the gym club with Ashley Balfour said: “We have about 200 members. Not all are taking part, but we are being helped by members of the public and students and Park View Community School.”

A sporting fundraiser was also held by pupils at New Silksworth Academy, Sunderland, which staged a week-long sponsored sporting marathon backed by Lloyds Bank Tyne and Wear Group which pledged to match all cash raised through the week.

All 446 pupils at the newly formed academy took part in the charity event with nursery and key stage 1 children staging a sponsored skipathon and key stage 2 pupils running 24 laps of the school gym, helped by sports coach Amar Purewal.

Prizes of Pudsey money boxes were also awarded to the best skipper and the most enthusiastic runner of the day with the children expecting to make £400.

Deputy headteacher, Fiona Lynn, said: “We have always supported Children in Need but this is the first time we have brought all of the children together to fundraise.

“We were delighted that Lloyds bank offered to support our sporting marathon as it is a great way to involve local businesses and parents in our activities within school.”

Student Neeve Jones, nine, of Sunderland, added: “I really like running so it’s a great way to raise money for Children in Need while having fun with my friends.”

Children from Mill Hill Community Primary School, in Northallerton, also welcomed Pudsey with a twist as they made a giant Pudsey Bear from pennies, as a grand finale to their day of fundraising for the charity.

A fun-filled day was had by all, with each class organising their own event.

Hit the Spot, Spot the Pudsey and Pin the Spot on Pudsey were amongst the fun activities on offer, there was even an opportunity to make a spotty biscuit.

Before counting the Pudsey pennies, the school had raised £340.

Co-headteacher, Annie Croft, said: “I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of both the parents and the children.

“The total amount raised is fabulous and goes to a very worthy cause.”

The fun continued at Risedale Sports & Community College which raised more than £1,000 after students were allowed to wear non-uniform and join in with the annual Risedale Children in Need fair held during lunchtime with stalls, games, cakes and prizes galore. Risedale's new principal, Colin Scott, was also a great sport by allowing students to throw soaking wet sponges at him for any donations they could offer.

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Hurworth School maths teacher Ryan Elgie is gunged for Children in Need

Other unlucky teachers included Ryan Elgie who got covered in gunge at Hurworth School, near Darlington.

The school staged an “I’m a teacher get - me out of here!” event as part of the nationwide fundraising efforts and raised £1,100.

Ten teachers were named as potential ‘gungees’ at the start of the week, with pupils filling buckets with spare change to ‘vote’ for who they would most like to see get gunged.

And the results proved that Mr Elgie’s bucket had collected the most money, making him the most popular with the pupils to undertake the challenge.

He said: “I’m putting on a brave face because it’s all about raising money for a good cause.”

In Newton Aycliffe, pupils at Horndale County Infant and Nursery School got the chance to splat headteacher Craig Brown with cream pies as part of a host of activities to raise awareness and cash for the cause.

Some children had to sit for a whole assembly with their feet in a tray of spaghetti or custard while others had to eat a doughnut off a string or be fed yoghurt by a member of staff.

But perhaps the cutest fundraiser went to parents at the Education Centre for Children with Down Syndrome, also in Newton Aycliffe, as they dressed their babies and toddlers up in spots and Pudsey-themed attire.

The charity, which provides essential support and educational development to families across the North-East, has this month been awarded more than £116,000 from Children in Need.

Money will go towards the salaries of seven of its 19 staff who work out of the town’s Pioneering Care Centre and its satellite bases in Hexham and Prudhoe, in Northumberland.

Maggie Hart, founder and head of education and training, said: “We totally rely on fundraising and getting grants.

“We’re delighted. It’s our third lot from Children in Need who have been fantastic in supporting the charity.”

Some schools also enjoyed a warmer approach to fundraising though as pupils at Stockton Riverside College held their own Pudsey pyjama party.

“As a college we like to get involved in raising funds for good causes,” said student services manager, Julie Wilson. “And we always love a dress up.”

The college’s campus took on a real party atmosphere with dozens turning up in their nightwear and a host of fun activities to help bring the cash in.

And they were not the only ones to adopt the tried and tested method as staff and pupils at Ingleton CofE Primary School, in Teesdale, also attended school in their pyjamas and onesies to raise money for the charity.

School secretary, Julie Simpson, said the children really enjoyed the experience and also held their own bake sale at lunchtime to boost the total funds up to £130.36.

“We have all been nice and warm which is thanks to our school council who organised the event,” she said. “All the children have been really excited and they’ve all been great.”

Sixth formers at Park View School in Chester-le-Street were hoping to raise more than £5,000 for Children in Need through a day of fundraising.

The teenagers dressed up to do collections around the town all day and organised other fundraising games for people to take part in.

Meanwhile, some pupils were taking part in a challenge at the CrossFit based at the school - to row one million metres between 6am and 9pm.

Around 300 students took part in the day with other events including a five-a-side football match between staff and pupils.

Jo Thoms, sixth form guidance manager, said: “It’s been freezing cold but they’ve been out all day collecting money.

“Children in Need is part of the community here and everyone looks forward to going out.”