THOUSANDS of people came together wearing silly consumes and taking part in crazy events to raise cash for this year’s Children in Need appeal.

Staff at Specsavers in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, donned their buckled shoes, eye patches and swords for a pirate-themed event.

Boots in Bournemouth Square caught the attention of shoppers with their sponsored leg wax in store.

Schools across the region got involved in Children in Need with a variety of events.

Bournemouth’s Round Table took guests “Around the World in 80 Minutes” at a special event at the Chine Best Western Hotel.

The Daily Echo-backed evening featured magic, music and comedy and a special appearance by TV’s Alistair McGowan.

Staff and pupils at Queen’s Park Junior School all came in dressed in their pyjamas and with messy bed hair for the day.

And Oakmead College held a sponsored car wash, cake sale and tombola to coin in the cash. Talbot House School also organised a pyjama day.

Students and Bournemouth University also got involved by trying to break a Guinness world record to get the most people standing from a sitting position while linking arms and having their legs crossed.

In Poole, one unfortunate member of staff at Asda on West Quay Road came to a sticky end in a bath of gooey foods. Starting with spaghetti, customers could add anything they wanted to the tub for a donation.

Wonder Woman, Dora the Explorer, and Little Miss Sunshine were among the brightly clad figures behind the counter at Boots in the Dolphin centre.

Health team manager Tracey Rayner said the costumes had helped to raise the spirits of customers feeling under the weather.

There were also fancy dress themes for the pirates at Bournemouth Collegiate Prep School in Parkstone and the sleepyheads in pyjamas at Upton Junior School.

Students and staff adopted crazy costumes for a charity volleyball match at Ashdown Technology College, while there was ballroom dancing at Milldown Primary School. Richard Wingfield, manager of the Virgin Active health club at Corfe Mullen, took part in a gruelling 24-hour exercise bike marathon, while the yard of ale was the big challenge at the Greyhound Inn in Corfe Castle.

All staff and children at St Mary’s Catholic First School in Wool went to school wearing something spotty.

They also hope to raise lots of money from a toy stall at the Christmas fair on December 9 and a raffle offering the winner the chance to be a headteacher for the morning. This has been won by eight-year-old Emilia Troughton.

• Send your Children in Need pictures to photos@bournemouthecho.co.uk