FUNDRAISING fever gripped the region as children and adults - and even animals - joined forces to raise thousands of pounds for the BBC Children In Need appeal.

Among those to take part was Dr Timothy Longmore, from Elvington Surgery, who said goodbye to his beard of almost 20 years when he braved a sponsored shave to raise money.

A pair of would-be superheroes, David Kershaw and Jonathan Brooks, solicitors from Ware and Kaye, in Peasholme Green, York, shocked colleagues when they ran in to work dressed as Batman and Robin to collect cash from them on Friday.

Generous students on the Child Studies course at York College also dressed up for a day to raise money and staff and children at Straylands Day Nursery, in Malton Road, York, took part in a pyjama day and teddy bear's picnic.

Butch the dog, who dons a different costume every year to raise money, spent the day collecting outside the Jorvik Centre, in Coppergate, decked out as a police officer.

The Jack Russell terrier's owner, Ann Mitchell, of Fulford, dressed him in a specially-made uniform of tunic and hat.

The national telethon raised more than £18m on Friday night as people around the country pledged cash.