Wacky ways to collect cash were top priority at schools in the Deal and Sandwich areas on Friday when pupils joined in the nationwide BBC Children in Need appeal.

Boys and girls at Warden House, Birdwood Avenue, Deal, arrived in their classrooms in their pyjamas to raise funds and Graham Chisnell, the school principal, led an assembly.

He said: “I spoke about two children who have benefitted from Children in Need and Pudsey Bear met the pupils and was joined by Percy the Bear. Even the staff dressed up to make the day a really memorable event for the children. There were some great painted faces and onsies!”

Abby Bennett and Hayden Taylor, pupils from Warden House’s Young Enterprise Group, announced that Percy, a giant teddy bear, will be raffled at the Christmas Bazar and funds raised will go to both Children in Need and Young Enterprise Group in school.

The children and staff of Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England Primary in Ash wore their pyjamas and onesies on Friday too.

Jennifer Taylor, the school’s publicity officer, said: “Since it started in 1980 this annual appeal has raised over £600 million to change the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children in the UK.

“The children enjoyed a day of fundraising activities which included filling in a giant picture of Pudsey, the charity’s mascot with 2p and 1p coins and a whole school sing-along. Each class chose a song that has actions and soon the whole school was singing and dancing to ‘Is this the way to Amarillo?’ and ‘Head, Shoulders,Knees and Toes’ to name but a few!”

* For more Children in Need photos and stories see this week’s East Kent Mercury on Thursday.