THE GENEROSITY of the people of Swindon was in full force for the annual Children in Need appeal.

Hundreds of people in the town took part in fundraising activities yesterday to raise much-needed cash for disadvantaged, disabled and abused children in Britain and abroad.

Nationwide was taking donations over the phone at its call centre in Swindon. Fifteen lines were open between 6pm and midnight.

Apart from manning the telephones, employees were also taking part in the marshmallow challenge to see who could fit the most marshmallows in their mouth at any one time. There was also an on-line auction offering a 'slave for the day' and a digital camcorder.

npower gas company at Dorcan House kidnapped a British Gas worker to get a ransom for Children in Need. Glenys Jennings, administrator at npower, said: "We were all dressed up and we saw this British Gas car outside and we just thought go for it. Poor man, we surrounded him."

Wootton Bassett Brownies brought a bear to their weekly Friday meeting and said a few words about why the bear was special to them. The subs for the evening were donated to Children in Need.

Driving instructor Nick Gaunt was holding a 24-hour underwater marathon at Cricklade Leisure Centre.

Two nursery managers at Bright Horizons day nursery in Peatmoor changed more than 140 nappies to raise money.

Staff from Ridgeway School in Wroughton got into the spirit by dressing up and sixth-formers held a sponsored karaoke. The school orchestra did some busking to raise money.

Children at Lethbridge Primary School in Old Town danced the day away to rock and roll music in fifties costumes.

Students at Churchfields school dressed up to dress down and arrived in dressing gowns and glitter make-up to raise money. The 15-year-old girls involved included Vicky Douglas, Kerry Ayres, Nicola O'Sullivan, Tanya Tobin, Katie Churcher, Lauren Willis, and Kimberly Cunning.

There was face painting at the Tesco Metro in the Parade in the town centre.

Workers at fleet car firm Arval PHH in Windmill Hill raised around £700 through a raffle of luxury goods. The company's Blue Team of client liaison advisors raffled a luxury food and drink hamper, a magnum of champagne and a weekend in a Volvo supplied by the Ridgeway West dealership at Elgin. Other teams at the firm also raised money through cake stalls and coin collections.

Staff at Sambourne House Antiques had a sponsored sleep in the window of the shop in the Brunel Centre. The hard-working crew slept in shifts for 24 hours between noon on Thursday and yesterday, raising £1,000.

Emma Jones from Thomas Cook sat in a bath of beans from 9am to 8pm.

Sports development officer for Swindon Council, Chris Kirklands, was having his legs shaved in the front window of Iceland in Wootton Bassett.

The BBC Wiltshire Sound party for Children in Need was a night to remember, with presenters entertaining people from across the county at the Thistle Hotel on Fleming Way.

Presenter Graham Seaman met fundraisers and entertainers on stage at Asda in West Swindon and the evening also featured the Kylie Minogue challenge.

This involved a trio of dancing girls from the classified department of the Advertiser going head-to-head with Wiltshire Sound to see who could do the best dance to Kylie's Can't Get You Out of My Head.