SCHOOLS across Blackburn with Darwen raised £52,672 for BBC Children in Need last year, figures reveal.

Since 2015, more than 175 schools in Blackburn have raised money for the charity year on year.

Now Lloyds Bank is calling on schools to join the 2017 BBC Children in Need Big Spoctacular fundraising campaign in time for the appeal night on November 17.

Once registered schools will be given a fundraising kit with nurseries and pre-schools encouraged to put on a Pudsey Picnic party, primary schools encouraged to go spotty and sing, bake or get creative and secondary schools to plan a Spotacular fundraising event or challenge.

Tanya Rabin, BBC Children in Need Partnership Lead at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “We are thrilled at how much local schools in Blackburn have raised for BBC Children in Need through the Big Lloyds Bank Spotacular and we hope their success so far will encourage other local schools to join in with The Big Spotacular.

"The partnership has played an important part of the Group’s Helping Britain Prosper Plan, helping tackle disadvantage and improving young people’s lives for the better.”

Schools that register before September 15 will be in with a chance of winning an exclusive prize. Visit bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/schools.