IT'S that time of year when a big yellow bear called Pudsey asks us to dig deep to help needy youngsters. 

And the kind-hearted residents of Bolton are not disappointing today when it comes to holding events for Children In Need.

Many youngsters are attending school wearing Children in Need-themed fancy dress. 

Mum Vicki Morris had to get creative to make an outfit for daughter Liarna, aged eight, who goes to Heathfield School.

She said: "We couldn't find a top as everywhere had sold out so we made our own."

Bethany Wood, aged eight, of Egerton Primary School, donned face paint and Pudsey ears for the day.

Pupils at Canon Slade School are enjoying a Bake Sale to raise money for an orphanage and teacher Nicole Evans brought in a fantastic Pudsey cake to be raffled.  

She said: "My form group sold raffle tickets to staff and pupils as part of a bigger Bake Sale and they made £40 just from this cake which was made by my mum Suzanne Egerton."

This year's live telethon effort will attempt to raise enough money to beat last year's record-breaking total of just over £37 million donated during the broadcast.

Since its creation in 1980, the charity has raised over £600 million.

Children In Need aims to protect every child in the UK and currently supports 2,400 projects across the nation.

The Children In Need Appeal Night will air tonight from 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC Two.