HUNDREDS of people across East Lancashire got involved in raising thousands of pounds for Children in Need today.

Events were held across the area in support of the charity extravaganza.

Darwen dad Ted Mountain began his bizarre fundraiser. He will live in a wheelie bin for two nights to raise cash for Children In Need.

The unemployed former canopy fitter, who has three children, Ben, 22, Coby, 20, and Dillon, 15, will be based at the Millstone pub, in the town centre, and will only be allowed out for five minutes every hour for toilet breaks.

Elsewhere, workers at Forbes Solicitors in Blackburn took part in an ‘Olympics Day’, while fundraising also took place at School House Nursery in Meins Road, Blackburn and The Old Vicarage Nursery in Rutland Street, Blackburn.

Burnley electrical company, Speakman Contractors, were recruited by DIY SOS: The Big Build for Children in Need 2011 to help complete a Liverpool youth centre.

Electricians from the company were filmed by the BBC for the 10-day project which would normally have taken around six weeks and £1million to complete.

One Stop Community Stores in Colne Road had a Wizard of Oz themed day to raise funds and as well as the Tin Man, Glinda the Good Witch, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion, there was also a man dressed up as Dorothy.

Little Acorns Community Nursery in Hurtley Street invited all of the staff and children to come in for the day in pyjamas and sport a crazy hair-do as well as selling buns and crispy cakes.

At Sir John Thursby Community College in Eastern Avenue a signed Burnley shirt was raffled and students and staff also got involved in a sponsored obstacle course wearing Wellington boots filled with custard.

The library also held a competition for students to guess the weight of a jar of sweets and some students collected money dressed as Pudsey.

Hameldon College in Coal Clough Lane held a range of events including putting the teachers in stocks and fancy dress.

The day was all arranged by the Student Governing Body and around £500 was collected.

Pupils at Haslingden Primary School in Ryefield Avenue had a non-uniform day and all the children were encouraged to make a donation and wear something spotty for the occasion.

The Colne branch of Skipton Building Society managed to raise around £140 from customer donations by climbing the equivalent of the Empire State Building on a stepper machine.

Children In Need photo gallery in Saturday's Lancashire Telegraph newspaper.