THOUSANDS of Hampshire people joined celebrities as the annual Children in Need extravaganza raised millions of pounds for charity.

There was no end to the crazy fundraising stunts staged across the county yesterday by individuals, businesses and schools.

It was hair today, gone tomorrow for Alan Hibberd, manager of the Safeway petrol station in Totton.

He agreed to shave off his long locks - which reached half way down his back - if staff raised more than £500.

Science teacher Gary Clark looked like he'd made a mistake in the lab when he dyed his grey hair purple.

The examinations officer said he would go magenta if pupils raised more than £200 and pupils were over the mar-oon when year 11 student Jodie Steele collected £400.

Kimberley Barrett took the baked bean bath classic to new heights. Spectators bought gravy, custard and other slimy sauces to throw at the chef who works at BBC's Broadcasting House in Havelock Road, Southampton. She raised more than £400.

Valerie Adams, Kimberley's mother, said: "She's got guts to do it - she's going to come out an awful colour."

Pupils and staff at Redbridge Community School, Southampton, took to the stage dressed as their celebrity idols for a Stars In Their Eyes competition.

Tim Shephard from Interserve, the company building the new school on Cuckmere Lane, sung Bob the Builder while other acts included the Three Degrees, Grease, Sonny and Cher, S Club 7 and Tom Jones.

The stage-happy stars hope to smash last years' total of £700.

Alana Rawles and a host of buddies including boyfriend Nathan Fairclough bowled for 12 hours non-stop at the Millbrook Megabowl in Southampton. Last year, the ex-Hampshire league bowler raised nearly £2,000.

Energetic Millennium Volunteers organised a day of events for children at Fryern Junior School on Oakmount Road, Chandlers Ford, and Millbrook Community School in Southampton staged a non-uniform day.

But teachers had to dress according to a strict spots and stripes dress code, with a £5 fine if they tried to duck out.

Squadron Leader Bill Thompson, the pilot, raised £3,200 of the total himself in a triathlon.

Lucky patients at Southampton General Hospital were treated to some authentic belly dancing.

Foxy dancers Jo Prothero and Tory Chance wiggled their way into the favour of crowds under the expert tutelage of Sammy Reynolds, who is originally from Iran. With other money raised baking cakes, the team took more than £250.

Southampton's Ordnance Survey team raised more than £1,000 with a number of initiatives including printer Rosie Curtis who collected over £400 while wearing a catsuit from colleagues at the agency's Maybush headquarters.