A TOTAL of �18,098,199 was raised for BBC Children in Need on Friday. Here are just a few of the activities going on in Welwyn Hatfield to boost funds for the charity.

The figure continues to grow for Children in Need, which aims to positively change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people right here in the UK, as all the money pours in from the thousands of events already held, or scheduled to happen.

Disabled 65-year-old grandmother plunged into Hatfield swimming pool for a swimathon to raise funds for the charity.

Betty Holton, from Little Ley, WGC, a long-standing member of the Platypus Swimming Club for the Handicapped, took on the 10 length challenge on Sunday.

Jim Redstone of the swimming club which meets at Hatfield Swim Centre, in Lemsford road, on Sundays, said: “Betty successfully reached her target with comparative ease although somewhat out of breath during the final two or three lengths.

“This is quite a remarkable achievement as Betty has Cerebral Palsy and has spent her whole life on crutches.”

Betty was not the only one doing their bit for Children in Need however.

A whole range of activities were ongoing from a man dressing up as Danger Mouse, to children painting their faces as Pudsey and dressing up in clashing outfits.

Businesses across Welwyn Hatfield were also involved with Hatfield’s Veolia Water manning the phones for the BBC telethon on Friday and WGC’s PayPoint setting up its hubs so they could receive much needed cash donations.

For more Children in Need fun see tomorrrow’s (Wednesday) Welwyn Hatfield Times.