A GIANT bear was sighted at Chrishall Primary School last week, to collect a cheque for more than £600 raised by the children there. Pudsey himself, mascot and instantly recognisable symbol of charity Children in Need, visited the Hertfordshire school to

A GIANT bear was sighted at Chrishall Primary School last week, to collect a cheque for more than £600 raised by the children there.

Pudsey himself, mascot and instantly recognisable symbol of charity Children in Need, visited the Hertfordshire school to gratefully receive a giant cheque for £643.32.

School secretary Tracey Thurgood-Buss said: "The children absolutely loved their visit from Pudsey and were proud to be able to present him with a cheque for the money they'd raised through their charity fund-raising.

"The school council, made up of children, decided on Children in Need being the charity for 2006/07, then set about raising money for it through events including a wacky hair day, a non-uniform day and a charity day with stalls set up in and around the school.

"The council has decided that the beneficiary for the coming year will be Heydon Animal Shelter and we've already held our first event, a wacky hair day, to raise money for that cause."

All 104 children at the school are involved in the fund-raising effort.