FROM fancy dress to yoga for youngsters, children and adults helped to raise money for this year s Children in Need appeal. A sponsored yoga session held at Saffron Walden Nursery School on Shire Hill industrial estate raised �72 for the charity. Nursery

FROM fancy dress to yoga for youngsters, children and adults helped to raise money for this year's Children in Need appeal.

A sponsored yoga session held at Saffron Walden Nursery School on Shire Hill industrial estate raised �72 for the charity.

Nursery manager Denise Russell said: "I think all the children really enjoyed it. The yoga moves were adapted down by teacher Emma Stevens so that the children could take part.

"The sessions were based around a story and all of the children brought teddies in. It was great fun and for a great cause."

Staff at Specsavers on Hill Street, Saffron Walden, raised an eye watering �170 for Children in Need with their fancy dress, raffle and colouring competition.

The women at the opticians wore whiskers and cat suits and spent the day collecting money and chasing their male colleague who was dressed as a mouse.

Optical assistant Lesley Furniaux said: "I think a lot of people were quite surprised when they came into the store, but it was a lot of fun."

Also collecting a large bounty for the charity were the Pirates of Chesterford who held Chesterford Research Park to ransom and made more than �1000.

Collection buckets were out in abundance with everyone entering or leaving the park being asked to donate what they could. The restaurant team also joined in serving a pirate-themed menu which included delicacies such as Black Beard's breakfast and Hook's bean hotpot.