BIG-hearted people across the south have helped raise a record-breaking £13.5m for BBC Children in Need.

People dug deep in their pockets to make sure this year's appeal was bigger and better than the last. The last seven days have seen all sorts of crazy capers going on, leading up to the marathon TV broadcast.

At the BBC Radio Solent offices a bumper £4,000 cheque was received from football mascots on a tour of the west country.

Staff at Princess Anne hospital in Southampton dressed up as pop idols and made patients guess which ones they were. Eastleigh Rugby Club in Bishopstoke hosted a floodlit festival of fun for all the family.

Southampton Stags American Football Team staged a three-hour aerobic workout in their full kit at Fitness First in Shirley High Street, and Alana Rawles bowled continuously for 12 hours at the Megabowl, Millbrook.

Friday's TV extravaganza hosted by Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin saw performances from singers including teen favourites Will Young and Gareth Gates and former West End star and more recently I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here contestant Darren Day.

There was also a remake of Michael Jackson's Thriller video by the cast of Eastenders and a variety of sketches performed by actors such as Footballers' Wives star Gary Lucy.