PUDSEY bear is in Carlisle today as part of the BBC’s annual live Children in Need television extravaganza.

The giant cuddly bear will be at the University of Cumbria’s Institute of the Art for BBC Look North’s annual event.

The Brampton Road campus, in Stanwix, will be the base for an evening of performances and celebrations tonight, aimed at highlighting fundraising across Cumbria and the north east.

Roddy Hunter, the director of the university’s Institute of the Arts, said: “We’re delighted that Pudsey wants to come, and see what the Institute of the Arts has to offer and look forward to making him and his supporters welcome.

“It’s great also to collaborate with the BBC who will be hosting some of our students at BBC Newcastle in the future so they can gain an insight into a career in broadcasting. Students from our TV and film course will be assisting the BBC’s technical team at Brampton Road to ensure the programme runs smoothly.”

The event is being managed by BBC North East and Cumbria who will be producing three live inserts into the national programme broadcast on BBC One.

The Carlisle campus will be illuminated for the event.

n Send pictures of your Children in Need events to picturescn@cnmedia.co.uk