PUDSEY power has swept through mid Cheshire and helped a national appeal hit its highest total yet.

An enormous £26,757,446 has been raised during this year’s Children in Need fundraiser, with Northwich residents joining in the fun of the 33rd campaign.

Here is just a snapshot of what was happening in the area on Friday.

Hartford CE High School held a wheelathon featuring members of the school gym club cartwheeling for 10 minutes.

More than 30 pupils took part and completed a total of 7,496 cartwheels, which is the equivalent of more than nine miles.

The wheelathon itself raised more than £300 and the school also held a free dress day, guess the bear’s name and a cake stall.

At Mid Cheshire College, also at the Hartford campus, students joined in a variety of fundraisers.

These involved cake sales, dance performances, colourful Smurf exercise training and hair and beauty treatments.

The college estimates that it raised more than £1,000 with its efforts, though all of the donations are still to be counted.

Staff from Weaver Vale Housing Trust, which has its headquarters in Gadbrook Park, raised £500 with a dress down day, cake sale and Pudsey-themed sweepstakes.

Gemma Massey, from the trust’s Giving Something Back charity group, said: “The trust is proud to support Children in Need.

“Our staff always come out in force to support good causes.”

Primary school pupils at The Grange, in Hartford, and Charles Darwin Primary School, in Castle, had a cosy day in class as they came to school in their pyjamas for the day.

Car enthusiasts from Knutsford and District Motor Club, which has members in mid Cheshire, raised more than £400 when they pulled a rally car from Altrincham to Manchester city centre.