Funds for the Forever Friends Appeal look set to exceed the charity's £50,000 target with almost £40,000 collected in the first few days.

Regional co-ordinator Hannah Grainger-Clemson said: "We are hoping to exceed over the original target and it looks like we will do by the rate the money is coming in.

The figure was collected from 340 of the 612 groups which enjoyed Ted's Big Day Out.

Fundraising administrator Abbie Smith said: "The figure on October 24 was £39,053.33 from about 340 organisations which took part in the day.

"We are hoping to exceed the £50,000 figure, but won't know until it's in the bank."

Money from un-registered fundraisers, means organisers may expect a record figure because the true number of groups which took part is unknown.

Miss Grainger-Clemson said: "About 600 organisations registered with us but there are people ringing now who did not register."

Money received include £10,000 from the Patients Organisation and £500 from Bath's Bear pub, which arranged the post-launch party on October 13.

Miss Grainger-Clemson was thrilled by the response to the day.

She said:"The Bear raised £500. They were dressed in pyjamas all day and leaping on and off buses with buckets. Ideally we would have visited everybody who took part but there were more than 600 groups."

"Each organisation registered with us will receive a certificate from the chairman of the Forever Friends Appeal, a thankyou letter and note stating how much they raised."

Southdown Infants School in Bath contributed £184 to the appeal and Bath Ladies' Bowling Club raised £165 from their annual dinner on post-appeal night.

Hospital visitors attending appointments did not escape the festivities contributing £655.

One third of Bath's 33,582 population took part in Ted's Big Day Out and 20,896 from Wiltshire and another 11,940 from people in Somerset.

Mayors from Chippenham, Devizes, Warminster and Bradford on Avon were among guests at the Mayor's teddy bear tea party, raising £175.

Contributions can be posted to PO Box 2890, and cheques are payable to RUH Charitable Fund 2001.

October looks set to be Ted's Big Day Out every year, said fundraiser Tim Hobbs.

He said: "We are extremely grateful to all our volunteers and the team who put the day together.

"The appeal hopes the day will become an annual event and a provisional date for October 19 has been set."