The people of Fermanagh dug deep into their pockets for Pudsey on Friday helping to raise more than £700,000 for BBC Children in Need Northern Ireland.

As phone lines closed at 2.00am, the overall appeal total at the end of the night stood at £20,991,216 and at £711,260 for Northern Ireland.

And among the events raising big bucks here was a sponsored 12 hour 'Stay Awake' at the Erne Integrated College. This event was organised by Dean McKenzie, a Year 14 pupil at the College, and raised £1,280.91 for the charity.

At Enniskillen Model Primary School, many willing helpers painted a large 'life-size' Pudsey Bear to stand in the school foyer. All pupils were asked to bring in copper coins and fill the jar beside Pudsey. The coin collection surpassed all initial targets and in the end many bins were needed to hold all the coins raising £652.14.

Elsewhere, there was a sponsored haircut, chest waxing and other activities at Lisnaskea Boat Club, a Crazy Hair Day/Pyjama Party at South West College Enniskillen and a Hawaiian themed karaoke competition at the Lough Erne Hotel, Kesh.

Many more meanwhile attended a massive concert in the King's Hall, where in front of an audience of 3,000, were recently reformed Irish chart toppers Boyzone who made a surprise appearance performing some of their best known songs and new material.

Also performing were Irish band The Script, R'n'B star Lemar, Donegal-born singing superstar Enya, singer/songwriter Julian Velard, Belfast's Brian Kennedy and London duo Honey Ryder. The concert and programme were hosted and presented by Stephen Nolan, Zoe Salmon and John Daly.

Last year on the night, BBC Children in Need Northern Ireland raised £606,399 from pledges and donations, part of the UK total of £19,089,771 which grew to a final total of over £37m.

In Northern Ireland this year, a total of £3.2m in grants were distributed to 284 groups/organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people.

To make a donation to BBC Children in Need you can call: 0345 7 33 22 33.