SCORES of children went home last night with smiles on their faces - and lots of yellow paint.

Dawn Knight painted more than 70 pupils to look like BBC Children in Need mascot Pudsey Bear.

Mrs Knight, 36, took on a challenge to face-paint every child in the infant classes at Shield Row Primary School, near Stanley, County Durham.

Mrs Knight, whose sons Bradley, aged six, and Lewis, five, go to the school, said: "It took the whole school day to get them all done, but the end results were great.

"The school was really supportive and the kids look great."

Each pupil donated at least 50p to take part. The money will be counted this weekend and given to the charity.

The face-paint was donated by Fantasia Fancy Dress, in Shotley Bridge, near Consett, and Mrs Knight was helped by three other mothers, Joanne Hogg, Joy Ruddick and Maria Simpson.

Children in the school's junior classes are getting in on the act by holding a non-uniform day and baking Pudsey cakes and biscuits.

Elsewhere in County Durham, council staff gave up their lunch-hour yesterday to take part in a fundraising fancy dress netball match.

Workers from Derwentside District Council's economic department took on community development colleagues in a game at the Belle Vue Leisure Centre, in Consett.