Line dancers break record

Pupils and staff at a school in Wombourne have landed themselves a place in the Guinness Book of Records after creating the longest line-dancing line-up in the world for Children in Need.

Sixth-formers and teachers at Ounsdale High School formed a line of 1,200 dancers to pull in cash for the charity - smashing the previous world record of 875 people.

News presenters taking on the roles of West End stars, Kylie Minogue back at her best and performing live, Boyzone making a comeback and two Doctor Who stars uniting for a one-off special - it could only be Children in Need.

But it wasn't just the celebrities pulling in the pounds for the appeal as thousands of generous fundraisers from across the West Midlands pulled on wacky costumes, set up competitions and even got a world record to raise the cash.

Last night's show raised almost £19.1 million for the annual appeal, beating last year's on-the-night figure of £18.3m. The appeal is on course to beat the total figure for the whole of the past year, which was £33m.

Pudsey Bear's appeal got a further boost from Parkfield Primary School in Wolverhampton which held a non-uniform day.

Marilyn Monroe, Cher and Zorro were among the characters at Henry Squire & Sons padlock manufacturing firm in Featherstone, which held a fancy dress day.

Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club held a boxathon to raise cash, and staff at the city's SB Waste travelled around in a skip to collect funds. A fancy dress walk through Blakenall, traditional sports day and Pudsey's barn dance were among the events organised to celebrate this year's Children in Need event in Walsall. In Kidderminster, children at Franche Community Primary School in Chestnut Grove held a non-uniform day.

In Stafford, workers at the Baker's Oven, in Greengate Street, wore fancy dress. And Sainsbury's, in Chell Road, also ran a range of fundraising events.

Meanwhile, workers from Catch Corner, at Acton Gate, dressed as clowns and in drag to raise cash.

West Bromwich hairdressers Nicola Warmer and Kelly Walters raised more than £100 after styling customers in their pyjamas for a 10-hour stretch. Children at Guns Village Primary turned up to classes in an array of costumes, and shoppers were stunned as more than 40 pantomime horses took to the streets of Birmingham.