PYJAMA-clad teachers, youngsters in fancy dress and shop staff wearing Pudsey ears gave a big-hearted boost to this year's Children in Need appeal.

Pupils and staff at dozens of schools across South Lakeland and beyond held home-baked cake stalls and swapped their school clothes for PJs, dressing gowns and superhero costumes.

Comic-book characters Spider-Man and Iron Man joined the cast of heroes in class at St Mark's C of E Primary School, Natland, where around £250 was raised.

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Sales of Pudsey baking merchandise by kitchenware company Lakeland, together with fundraising at its stores, pulled in an impressive £93,145.95 and the money is still coming in, said customer ambassador Wendy MIranda.

At its flagship Windermere store, Lakeland tempted shoppers with cupcakes during a charity bake day, raising £300.

There was huge excitement for local families who played a part in this year's official Children in Need single when the song topped the charts on Sunday. Wake Me Up, by choirmaster Gareth Malone's All Star Choir, notched up 120,000 sales and beat Ed Sheeran and One Direction to the number one spot.

The track features audio clips recorded at a music therapy session in Kendal. Several local youngsters who attend the group - one of 60-plus run every month by Sunbeams Music Trust - also appeared in the accompanying video.

Sunbeams founder and chief executive Annie Mawson MBE said: "We are all delighted that Gareth chose to involve our Sunbeams Music For Life® session with the children from South Lakes and Eden. Everyone was thrilled to take part and even the children with profound disabilities sensed the excitement in the air! The publicity and the resultant accolades have all helped to raise our profile and help the general public understand and acknowledge the benefits of our community music therapy."

Sunbeams has been chosen by the school council at Vicarage Park Primary School, Kendal, as its charity of the year.

Meanwhile, two Kendal friends, Anna Luisi, 12, and Rosie Nelson, 13, baked biscuits and cakes and raised £105 by selling them to neighbours and friends. "We are very proud of them as they put so much hard work into it," said mums Rebecca Luisi and Lynn Nelson.

And colleagues at Booths supermarkets in Ulverston, Milnthorpe, Windermere, Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale raised thousands by wearing pyjamas and onesies to work, and hosting a variety of fun events. The Rotary Club of Lunesdale joined with staff at the Kirkby Lonsdale store to collect £1,790 from generous shoppers.

Booths stores in Cumbria, including those at Kendal, Ulverston, Windermere, Kirkby Lonsdale and Milnthorpe raised more than £7,000.

Ben Cross, Store Manager at Kendal Booths, said: “We are delighted to have raised over £1,300 for Children in Need and are overwhelmed by the generosity of Booths customers – it was a very special weekend of activities as the fundraising also coincided with the 10 year anniversary of our store."