A panda driving a go-kart and a pasta fanatic eating spaghetti with one hand behind his back were just two of the spectacles as Children In Need frolics took hold of Sussex.

Workers dressed up and performed wacky stunts as thousands of people took part in the 22nd annual appeal yesterday.

More than £20 million was raised last year in the appeal, with about £800,000 raised in the South.

A go-karting marathon began on Thursday in Deer's Leap Park, East Grinstead, when six teams of six people set off in a race lasting 12 hours.

One competitor took to the track dressed as a panda and another raced his vehicle in the buff.

Event organiser Mark Searle said: "It was brilliant and went really well. Everyone was tired but we had an excellent finale.

"We've raised £12,000 which is more than we expected."

In Hove, Gino Lombardo attempted to eat a giant bowl of spaghetti with one hand behind his back.

Mr Lombardo tucked into pasta with tomato sauce outside the Bay Tree Cafe in George Street.

He said: "I like eating and I like my pasta but I'm never going to eat spaghetti again. I couldn't finish it and I got very messy. It was really good fun though."

Parents and staff were sent out in the cold for a cross-country race at Harlands School, Haywards Heath.

Adults were asked to run around two pitches before returning to the school.

In Steyning, pupils at St Andrew's Primary School raised £450 in a sponsored detention, while children at Stanford Junior School in Brighton raised about £1,000 in a bike ride.

Hannah Abdullah, of Hogarth Road, Hove, listened to Harry Potter story tapes back-to-back for more than 50 hours.

Hannah, 13, raised £150 with the help of school friends and family.

She said: "It was very difficult to stay awake." Children aged from two to five raised more than £200 at the Good Start School in Poynings.

They made iced cakes to sell to parents and friends and had a raffle throughout the day.

At the Pilgrim Goose pub in London Road, Hassocks, bar staff dressed up as naughty nurses in a bid to beat the £1,200 they raised last year.

Assistant manager Karen Sumner said: "All our regulars have promised to come in tonight and see us again. It should be good fun."

Brighton and Hove Albion players took time out from training to help raise money too.

Kerry Mayo visited a pyjama party at the Hopscotch nursery in Peacehaven.

Simon Morgan and Richard Carpenter swapped jobs with cashiers at the North Street branch of HSBC in Worthing.

Events at Brighton Marina were also in full swing with back waxes, sponsored silences and Pudsey Bear making an appearance on skates.

Fire officers from Roedean in Brighton drove an engine to the venue where children could hop on board for a donation of 50p.

Postal workers from Brighton took part in a 12-hour bowling marathon at the marina's Bowlplex and had raised more than £1,500 by 3pm yesterday.