STAFF at npower’s Worcester call centre have received a special visit from Pudsey Bear and have been prepping towards Children in Need’s appeal show.

Around 75 employees have volunteered to man phone lines dedicated to taking donations on Friday night for Children in Need.

The team will take donations throughout the entire live BBC broadcast from 7pm on Friday to the small hours of Saturday morning.

This will be the fourth year running the Worcester office has been selected as Children in Need’s official call centre, having taken thousands of calls last year which contributed to the overall total raised of £58 million in 2018.

Pudsey has been meeting npower staff around the UK, also popping into offices in Hull and Sunderland to encourage donations. Call centre employees at all three sites have been busy fundraising by selling merchandise and raffle tickets to raise money ahead of the appeal show on Friday.

Worcester’s deputy mayor Jo Hodges will be making a special guest appearance on Friday night.

She said “I am delighted to be joining the fundraising activities for this year’s Children in Need at npower’s call centre in Worcester.

"Good luck to all the volunteers who will be giving up their Friday evening to take donation calls for this wonderful charity.”

Lian Hitchen, event organiser and service manager based at the Worcester branch, said “It’s such a fantastic evening and we have many returning volunteers keen to be involved, with some even working a normal 9-5 day before hitting the phone lines.”

“We’re expecting a very busy evening and our volunteers will be ready and waiting to take donation calls.

"With our plans for a Peaky Blinders themed fancy dress and special guests in tow, it’s certainly going to be a night to remember.”