Children and staff at the Children’s Centre on Woodbourne Road had a surprise visitor when Pudsey Bear dropped in as part of the BBC Children in Need appeal.
The cuddly visitor spent time in the Over Twos’ nursery meeting the children who were delighted and enchanted by the visit.
Chris Holland from the centre said: ‘They were also joined by some of the small babies as well who also had a chance to meet him.
‘They were all absolutely delighted and surprised to see him there. They were doing high fives with him and it was a wonderful opportunity to talk to the children about why he wears an eye patch which led to a discussion about children who are less fortunate than they are. It really helped to engage the children in what Children in Need is all about,’ he said.
The visit was also filmed by a BBC film crew as part of a whistle-stop tour of the island and the footage should be shown - time permitting - as part of Friday night’s television coverage.
Inspired by the visit, the children spent the rest of the day engaged in a range of Pudsey-themed activities, including art work.
On Friday, which is the actual Children in Need day, the children will be doing a range of activities to help raise some money to contribute to the appeal.
‘There is a whole range of activities planned buty they are all top secret,’ Mr Holland said.
‘But the visit certainly gave a huge boost to the whole occasion - to be told right from the top - by Pudsey himself, that they have to do it.’
The BBC Children in Need appeal is on Friday and will be broadcast on BBC1 starting at 7.30pm. Coverage moves to BBC2 at 10pm returning to BBC1 at 10.40pm until 2am.
Fronted by Terry Wogan, the appeal in its current form started in 1980 but there were precedents starting with a pioneering radio charity appeal in 1927. The first television charity appeal was by Harry Corbett and Sooty in 1955.
The 1980 appeal, the first using the current format, raised just over £1 million while last year’s appeal raised just over £49 million.