KIND-HEARTED people from around the region joined in the fundraising fun for Children in Need yesterday.

Wacky events took place across the North-East and North Yorkshire to raise thousands of pounds for the annual charity appeal.

Students Susan French, 21, and Darren Bryant, 18, sold kisses at East Durham and Houghall Community College, Peterlee, County Durham.

Youngsters queued to smooch the desirable duo at 50p a time during the sponsored snog.

Clare Watson, student liaison officer at the college, said: "Darren was attacked by quite a few girls, so he has raised a lot of money. They haven't refused to kiss anyone who has asked, they have been very diplomatic."

Other events at the college included a karaoke session, charity football match, sponsored walk, a 2p trail, leg waxing and a penalty shoot-out. Altogether, the students raised £300.

Pupils at The Hermitage School, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, raised £400 by creating a giant Pudsey Bear with loose change.

Janice Riley, coordinator of learning, said: "It's been brilliant. We taped an outline of Pudsey on the floor and the children filled it with silver coins, then we used copper for his eye-patch."

Swimmer Hayley Turner postponed plans to swim ten miles at Darlington's Dolphin Centre because she has flu.

The 18-year-old Teesside University student, from Mowden, Darlington, now hopes to take the plunge next week.

She aims to raise £240 for Children in Need and will don a costume to match Pudsey's eye-patch. "I want to swim it wearing a yellow polka dot bikini," she said.

Children at the Just Learning nursery, Newton Lane, Darlington, put on fancy dress and had a teddy bears' picnic.

Members of community-based environmental trust Groundwork West Durham had their faces painted.

Football managers Peter Reid and Bobby Robson put rivalries aside to draw the winners of a competition to win tickets for today's Tyne-Wear derby.

The BBC broadcast live from Richmond Castle, North Yorkshire, and Eldon Garden Shopping Centre, Newcastle.

Security staff at the centre got into the spirit by losing their clothes during a Full Monty-style strip