Caring boy racers, mad hatters, custard baths and a newsagent staffed by a pirate and mini mouse are just some of the weird and wonderful examples of Norwich people's passion for Children in Need.

Caring boy racers, mad hatters, custard baths and a newsagent staffed by a pirate and Minnie Mouse are just some of the weird and wonderful examples of Norwich people's passion for Children in Need.

People across the city proved a point yesterday, putting in hard work and showing continuing dedication to the cause and an English eccentricity typified nowhere more than in our city.

More than 70 Japanese car nuts from the Scooby Subaru owners club are staging an enormous convoy across the city, starting off at Broadland Business Park and stopping off at Gentleman's walk between 8pm-9pm.

Drivers from across the south of England descended, dressed as Scooby Doo, Darth Maul, 1930's gangsters armed with water pistols and men dressed as nuns, all drummed up funds by way of collection tins and through paying for the privilege of being allowed to be unashamed car nuts for the evening.

As Rob Harris, 38, form Bury St Edmunds, explains, it's good to be able to do what you love and prove a point.

'It is nice to be given the chance to prove we are not just a bunch of typical boy racers, we're caring car enthusiasts,' said Mr Harris.

'It is an excuse to do what we do best, show off a little bit, make a lot of noise and a spectacle of ourselves but all for a worthy cause.'

The group have raised �3,500 in previous years, and raised a rough total of �25,000 over the nine year history of the convoy.

They heop to match that amount and will finish The Village Inn in Little Melton where they will auction off donated prizes from car suppliers and affiliated businesses for the charity.

'This could be last time we can do this because of cuts to police budget, who marshal the convoy. So we are looking to go out with a bang.'

At City College on Ipswich Road, the staff at the Students' Union were in wonderland as they held their Mad Hatters Tea Party.

Alice, the Queen of Hearts and her loyal playing card soldiers and one half of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee sold cakes and buns to raise money.

All had been donated or made by the college's staff, students and cafe.

'The deputy president is obsessed with Alice in Wonderland,' said Stephanie Wilson, administrator for the union.

'She already had a costume, and we were doing a tea part, so the theme fitted. Special mention should go to our events coordinator, Liu Chiu, for all the buns she made.'

The college also had a mobile climbing wall, a visit to the nursery from Pudsey, a mini Pudsey - possibly a son he hasn't told anyone about - a wear your pyjamas to class day by the sixth form centre and a Christmas gift stall run by the health and social care students.

And later in the day, Norwich City FC legends Darren Huckerby and Darren Eadie got in gear with Richard Howitt MEP taking part in the college's Land's End to John O'Groats exercise bike challenge, where all day people been doing shifts in an attempt to cycle the 874 mile classic journey, without leaving the confines of the Norfolk Building.

•Elsewhere, selfless shopworker Claire Warnes, 37, from Norfolk Street, lay in a bath of cold custard for six hours outside her place of work, the newsagent on Vauxhall Street.

She raised roughly �250. Her mum, Janet Warnes, said: 'She loves to raise money for charities, it's just her nature to raise money for people in need.'

Claire Warnes has previously won the Evening News local hero award for her charitable work.

•Customers at Hannants Newsagent on Magdalen Street were greeted by a Scotsman in a kilt, a pink lady from Greece, a pirate and Minnie Mouse. Earl Gomez, Greig McCloud, Rachel Arnup and Charlene Collomb raised aroudn �200 by way of donations.

'They look at us in bewilderment, and then drop money in the tin,' said Mr Gomez.

•Norwich artist Steven Teeuw, 30 from Browning Close, was outside the front of Jarrolds all day creating an oil painting of the scene from the entrance to the clock on City Hall.

Mr Teeuw is hoping to sell the painting later. He said: 'I wasn't up to much, so I thought I should use my skills to make a few pennys for the charity. I'm a father myself and I really appreciate the cause.'

•East City and Framingham Earl Area SureStart Children's Centre handed over a cheque for �400 yesterday at the Children in Need shop at The Forum.

They raised the money by way of a bingo night on Friday November 11, called Bingo Wings and Bangers.

More than sixty people attended and the staff of the centre gave up their time for free to run it.

They also held a raffle, giving away prizes donated by various local companies and shops such as Lush, the Book Hive, Dunston Hall, the Disney Store and Theatre Royal.

• At AVIVA's Corporate Operations, Sentinel House, Norwich, hairy manager Clive Wyatt, 43, from Norwich, not only agreed to have his head and beard shaved in the name of Children in Need, but walked around sporting a Mr T style haircut from 10am until a professional hairdresser, Shaun King from Esquire Hair Studio in Norwich, who came on his day off and did the cut for free, could come and finish the job at 2pm.

The amount raised �702.74 was in sponsorship for Clive's hair removal. In addition to this �428.68 was raised through other activities, such as cake sales and raffles.

The staff were also hoping to get pound for pound matching from Aviva so should eventually raise over �2000.

• At Norwich Airport three managers went head to head to raise as much cash as possible to prevent receiving a leg wax with a difference.

More than �500 was raised by sponsoring the leg waxes, staff paying to come to work 'in spots' and baking and selling cakes.

Kevin Whitman, Health & Safety manager, Richard Pace, Operations Director and Lawrence Tattersall, Security & Operations Manager

were waxed by fancy dress fundraisers Rachel Newton and Trudy James.

• Friends and relatives were treated to a varied programme at the debut concert performance of the Winterton Quintet, at the Park Lane Chapel in Norwich Saturday. All 12-year-olds currently studying at the City of Norwich School, the quintet comprises: Hannah Bradfield, Leila Hooton, Kara Kordtomeikel, Lucy Rodd and Sarah Walton.

The Quintet was coached and mentored by local music teacher Helen Boreham. She said: 'They're a lovely group of young musicians, most of the ideas for the programme were theirs; I just helped them put it all together.'

The concert raised �500, which will go towards the BBC's Children in Need appeal.

The Winterton Quintet are Sarah Walton, Hannah Bradfield, Lucy Rodd, Kara Kordtomeikel, Leila Hooton.

• The Papa John's pizza store in Norwich will be helping Pudsey Bear raise money this Friday by donating a slice of its sales to the annual Children in Need event.

The pizza store on Colman Road donated 50p for every pizza sold yesterday.

Guiseppe La Bella, owner of the Norwich store, said: 'We know that many of our customers will be helping to raise money for Children in Need, whether it is by getting involved in fundraising, or, by settling down to watch the programme and making a donation.

'We thought it would be fantastic if we got involved in the activity.'

• Framingham High School students Lauren Harris, Evie Dix and Amelia Culling, all 14, undertook a charity walk on Sunday November 13.

Lauren's father, Harry Harris, also accompanied them on the 22.5 mile walk which started at Stoke Holy Cross and proceeded through Caistor St Edmund, Poringland, Framingham Pigot, Kirby Bedon, Bramerton, Surlingham, Rockland, Hellington, Alpington, Poringland, Howe, Shotesham, Saxlingham and back to Stoke.

It took them eight hours and left them all with a few aches and pains, but it was worth it, as they raised �300 pounds.

Mr Harris said: 'The girls are very proud of the amount they raised, as am I of them.'

• Pupils and teachers alike put the fun into fundraising at St Augustines Roman Catholic Primary School in Costessey yesterday.

A pyjamas day for all, along with a sale of Pudsey biscuits made by the youngsters, helped raise nearly �250 towards the good cause.

• The model engineers who run the miniature railway in Eaton Park raised �1,000 for Children in Need with their last day of running in October, a record amount for them.

•At The Bawburgh School, people have been filling a Pudsey Bear with coins, and are determined to fill it by the end of the week.

•Staff at the One-stop shop in Woodcock Road, north Norwich, wore fancy dress as part of Children in Need. Cakes cooked by staff and customers were on sale for 20p.

They also held a Pudsey Bear drawing competition at 3pm for the children and a treasure hunt for adults.

•Hellesdon High School's council bake sale raised �40 and was organised by Year 9 students Connie Wardale and Chelsea Hardesty, all of the cakes and biscuits were made by the students and were sold for 20p or 50p.

•At Whitlingham, near Trowse, 16 teams from public and private sector plus two school teams took part in the annual Pudsey Paddle. Teams went head-to-head across the Broad with Pudsey and Olly the Elephant, Norfolk's Olympic mascot, on the sidelines giving their support. Everyone was in fancy dress from Strictly Come Dancing including Bruce Forsyth to the Olympic Rings.

*We have been swamped with pictures of your great work for charity, for which we are very grateful. See our picture gallery for much more.