More than £21 million has been raised so far for this year's national appeal, with nearly £2 million coming from kind-hearted East Anglian residents.

Kicking things off were students and staff at Newmarket College who paid £1 each to wear as many different colours as they could during a non-uniform day.

Assistant headteacher Paul Clarkson got in the act by agreeing to have his beard shaved by sixth-form students – as long as they raised £100 – who also took part in a sponsored cycle event at the leisure centre. Staff hope to have smashed last year's total of £588.

At the Colourbox Montessori School, staff and pupils raised more than £300 thanks to a fancy dress day. Three-year-old Felix Allen raised £70 by himself selling cakes to his neighbours.

Staff at Scaltback's Co-op store raised £170 by dressing up as St Trinian's school girls and asking customers for donations.

They organised a raffle and a Pudsey Bear competition for children, with prizes donated by the Co-Op.

Wacky dressing was also the theme for staff at Ridgeons in Studlands Park, Newmarket, who raised more than £120.

Stock controller Carol Roberts and her colleagues paid £1 to dress up, while the company agreed to match any fundraising, pushing their total up to £240.

More than £500 was raised by regulars at the Cherry Tree pub after landlord Martin Whitehouse agreed to have his head shaved.

Meanwhile, in Soham, Angela Elgar and Claire White raised £82 with a raffle, bric-a-brac sale and a tea and cake store at the St John Ambulance building.

Not to be outdone, Beck Row Primary School organised a talent show based on ITV's Britain's Got Talent.

Magicians, singers, comedians and gymnasts all took to the stage in the event, which was organised by Year 4 pupils.

Teacher Lorraine Downs said: "All the teachers and pupils from Year 3 and 4 took part. There was not just the normal singing and dancing but a wide variety of performances. Everyone involved had a fantastic time."

The eventual winners of the competition, which was judged by Year 3 and 4 pupils and two teachers, were three-piece gymnastic group Gymnasticals.

In Mildenhall, more than £2,000 was raised from a 24-hour dance-athon by the Kimberley Ann Theatre School.

Principal Kimberley Ann presented a cheque live on BBC One on Friday after being invited to a charity event at Parkers Piece, Cambridge.