VERWOOD is gearing up for tomorrow's Children in Need with a special part-televised event featuring none other than the charity mascot Pudsey Bear.

Residents are invited to The Verwood Hub for a day and an evening packed full of entertainment inspired by the late Terry Wogan.

Children will have the chance to meet Pudsey who will be making his way from the BBC studios in Southampton and onward to the Merryfield Theatre, aka the Hub, at around 7.30pm.

But before his arrival, youngsters will have their pick of some fun-filled entertainment the second they leave school.

There will be a bouncy castle in the garden - subject to the weather conditions - as well as a face-painter from 2-4pm, and a children's entertainer from 4-5pm.

Then from 5.30pm, Neil Zebedee performs on the piano, while more guests begin to gather. There will also be a display from the Poole Field Gun Display Team.

Event organiser Warren Brown said he hopes the event will raise somewhere in the region of £5,000 for the good cause.

From 7.30pm Mickey Mouse and his friends will dance into the theatre to the sounds of Floral Dance, before the compare David Armstrong announces the arrival of the guests of honour for the evening, the Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset John Raymond and the Mayor of Verwood councillor Susan Shaw.

There will then be a plethora of communal singalongs, a performance from the Prompt Corner Academy of Dance, solo artists, the Yetminster Irish Dancers, before Pudsey makes his appearance on stage.

And the entertainment is set to continue long into the evening with yet more performances from the likes of the Wessex International Majorettes, Lindy Hop club Jitterbug Jive, choristers from Emmanuel Middle School, and even more appearances from much-loved children's characters.

Mr Brown has urged everyone and everyone from the area to join in with the fun.

"Let's hope that a lot of people come and support BBC Children in Need and, on behalf of Children in Need, thank you to everyone for their support," he said.

For more information and to buy tickets for the event call 01202 828740.