PUDSEY may have been busy at Television Centre but a host of colourful characters including Tigger, the Smurfs and (even) Darth Vader showed their good sides to help Children in Need.

Teenagers at Greenford High School were quick to dress up and bake cakes in all in the name of helping children less fortunate than themselves on Friday last week (November 16).

Sponsored silences and spelling tests also helped the school to raise more than £2,000 so far.

Lessons were given a wild twist with students dressed up as safari animals including zebras, elephants and giraffes. And the usually suited teachers were more than happy to go back to school as unkempt students.

A team of Smurfs raised £180 and other students nearly turned blue as well when they braved the cold and arrived at school in their pyjamas clutching their teddy bears.

Headteacher Mathew Cramer said: “I’m delighted with the enthusiasm shown by staff and students. They really entered into the spirit of the event, not just in terms of raising a magnificent amount of money, but in doing it in a typically British, eccentric way - a time honoured tradition.”