PEOPLE across Wiltshire took up zany challenges and did the most bizarre things on Friday, but it was all in a good cause as the cash poured in for Children In Need.

Pet shop assistant Sadie Keonane, 26, from Rowde, near Devizes, spent her day off last Thursday sitting in a dog cage and raised £325 in sponsorship from customers at Rangebourne Pet Care in New Park Street, Devizes.

She said from her self-enforced prison last week: "I got the idea from watching David Blaine in that Perspex box over the Thames.

"I know it's not quite in the same league, but the idea appealed to me.

"We sell the dog cages in the shop. They can take one big dog or two small ones, so I thought I should be able to fit in quite easily.

"It's quite comfy. I've got a dog bed to sleep on and the staff keep passing me dog biscuits and treats."

Shop owner Andy Shepherd said: "She stayed in the whole day, from 9am to 5.30pm without a break. It was all her own idea, although the rest of the staff joined in by making ourselves up as Pudsey Bear."

There was dancing in the street to Seventies music when staff at Thomas Cook in Chippenham threw off their inhibitions for Children in Need.

Dressed in flares and platform shoes, with more than a liberal smattering of glitter, the five travel agents put on a show for customers and passers-by in the High Street on Friday.

Customer services manager Belinda Rees said:"We really wanted to go for it for Children in Need and raise as much money as possible, so we thought, why not have some music and dancing?

"We've had a great response from our customers and from people walking up and down the High Street and they have been donating really generously to our collecting buckets. I think they were impressed by our dancing to Blame it on the Boogie and YMCA we've been practising a little bit."

The Thomas Cook staff hope that braving the elements to bop in the streets will help them to raise £500 for Children in Need.

Students from Wiltshire College, Lackham raised more than £700 for Children In Need.

Forty students, including the college rugby team, took a break from their studies to pull a five-tonne Valtra 150 tractor two miles around the college grounds.

The pulling team were aged between 16 and 22.

One student Sabina Swithenbank was prepared to make a personal sacrifice.

She volunteered to have her shoulder length hair cut off and raised £600.

More than 40 students gathered in the bar to watch fellow student Oliver Morris' own interpretation of The Salon as lock after lock of hair fell.

Other fundraisers at the college included students being fined for not wearing odd socks, the colour red or being seen without their teddy bears.

At Devizes School more than £1,000 was raised by pupils and staff, and one teacher, Glyn Evans, even dressed as a fairy.

Mr Evans, who has a reputation as a hard man following his time in the Army, donned a pink tutu, wings, tiara and a wand.

Pupil Kelly Brett, 15, said: "Everyone cheered Mr Evans on. We are pleased he agreed to take the challenge and dress as a fairy."

Chippenham solicitors Wood Awdry & Ford joined in on fundraising activities for Children in Need when staff baked a variety of cakes, biscuits and meringues.

The cakes were sold to colleagues throughout the day, raising £52 for Children in Need.