A giant-sized Pudsey Bear has been mingling with pupils at Magdalene House Preparatory School, Wisbech, to mark his appreciation for their big-hearted charity efforts for Children in Need.

Pudsey, the mascot who fronts the BBC’s annual appeal, met the boys and girls at Wisbech Grammar School’s preparatory school as they prepared for Children in Need day and was delighted to find that they had been involved in a host of fund-raising activities, including a sponsored silence.

Headmaster Mr Chris Moxon said: “We are very grateful to Pudsey for taking time out of a busy schedule in order to visit Magdalene House. The children were thrilled to see him and it was also my pleasure to shake his paw.

“We still have lots of money coming in and we hope to announce a total soon to send to this very worthy cause.”