Journalists at regional publisher Archant held a charity auction of novelty goods to raise £240 for Children in Need.

Items up for grabs at Archant Suffolk’s ‘Nearly Famous Bring-And-Buy Charity Auction’ included a toothbrush that plays the Village People classic YMCA.

Nigel Pickover, editor of Ipswich’s Evening Star, was among the bidders for the item, which eventually went for £10.50.

However Nigel was more successful in his bids for 15 other items at the sale, prompting one Archant insider to comment that they would “need a small skip to deliver them.”

Elsewhere staff on the Chester Chronicle bid for a series of ‘lots’ including an extra hour’s lunch break, as part of their fundraising efforts for Children in Need, raising £657.50 in total.

Trinity Mirror Cheshire’s publishing director Carl Wood acted as auctioneer as editorial, advertising and other staff from the title competed for items such as a late start or early finish, a fruit cake and selection of Christmas hampers.

And reporter Laurie Stocks-Moore braved having his legs waxed to raise even more cash after being nominated by receptionist Debbi Lindsay.

Staff from the Chester Chronicle raised £657.50 for Children in Need.

In the Exeter offices of Archant South West’s Exeter offices, many employees came into work wearing spotty fancy dress outfits and a cake stall was held, to raise £44.

And spotty clothes were also the order of the day at Archant Life in Cheltenham where face-painting and cupcakes helped raised £60.

At the Archant Life office in Totnes, staff dressed up as school-children for the day and held a Guess the Baby Photo competition, raising over £107 for the charity.

And at Archant Norfolk’s Prospect House office in Norwich, the ad sales team held a raffle, sold chocolate goodie bags and raised £566 by selling cakes and chocolate goodie bags.

As previously reported, journalists from the Mansfield Chad raised £250 for the good cause by baking and selling cakes to readers.

In Exeter, spotty outfits were worn by Archant staff.