FUNDRAISERS across Bolton are gearing up to raise thousands of pounds for Children in Need on Friday.

From a chef straining to see out a sponsored silence to a team of youngsters offering themselves at a slave auction, countless kind-hearted Bolton folk will join forces again for the popular BBC-led event.

Staff at the Bolton Arena will attend work dressed as "what they wanted to be when they were older".

Stephanie Whittingham, marketing and events executive, said her colleagues will be a colourful collection.

"There will be a Darth Vader, a weather girl and all sorts of outfits," she said. "Someone's even coming dressed as a naughty secretary."

Staff at the Spring House Doctors' Surgery, Chorley Old Road, Bolton, made £300 for Children in Need last year. They are hoping to exceed that figure on Friday.

Administrator Anne Locke said: "We have done lots of charity events recently, namely for breast cancer and autism charities. We think it is very important to help out and Children in Need is something everyone looks forward to each year. We will be raffling hampers and dressing "glitzy" for the day."

Amanda Blinkhorn, team leader at the Wilton Arms Belmont Road, Bolton, believes head chef Julie Hunt will find it hard maintain her sponsored silence during her 12 hour shift tomorrow. She said: "Julie is a real chatterbox so it is going to be very hard for her. But it's all for a great cause.

"We've been sponsoring her and there will also be buckets next to the tills so customers can donate too."

Among the many events around the borough is a slave auction organised by government-funded training providers Training For Today, based in Lever Street, Bolton. Nine youngsters on the company's books will be offering their services as slaves to the highest bidders.

Other Children in Need events will include a 12-hour sponsored static cycle ride by instructors Liz Wells and Emma Bennett at the David Lloyd Fitness Centre and a fun rounders match involving staff from the Children's Service Department at the Excel Centre, Manchester Road.

And pupils at the Rose Hill Nursery, Burnden, will be dressing as their favourite characters and being gunged as part of the fun.