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The ´óÏó´«Ã½ South Children in Need Party is back and this year we are putting Pudsey in the driving seat with a visit to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

The bear with the big heart will also be joined by ´óÏó´«Ã½ presenter Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes (´óÏó´«Ã½'s The Football League Show, C´óÏó´«Ã½'s The Wonderful World Of Weird, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Newsround, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Beijing Olympics Team) and ´óÏó´«Ã½ South Today's Roger Johnson at the museum in the New Forest, along with a host of fund-raisers from across the region.

The fun starts at 5.30pm on Friday 20 November and there will be broadcasts live into South Today from 6.30pm, as well as the national Children in Need programme on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One throughout the night until 10.00pm.

Entry is free and Pudsey partygoers will also get to look around the exhibits at the museum including the James Bond Experience and the World of Top Gear.

In what promises to be a night of fun and entertainment, fundraisers can drop by with their cheques while Roger and Lizzie will be chatting to local people to find out what they've been doing for this year's Children in Need Appeal.

Lizzie said: "I am delighted to be joining Roger, Pudsey and, of course, the fabulous Murray Walker for Children in Need.

"I started my career down here in the South and even worked as a floor manager on a ´óÏó´«Ã½ South Children in Need night, so hopefully it will all come flooding back.

"In the run-up to Friday's big event I've been lucky enough to meet some of the amazing and brave children who have benefited from the money raised from previous Children in Need appeals and I know this year we are going to do even better for them.

"I've also been in putting in some extra training in preparation for the night with South Today weather presenter Sara Thornton and our new friends from the Army Barracks at Marchwood.

"But you'll have to tune in on Friday night to find out if we can hold our own with the military!"

Notes to Editors

You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to cover the event on Friday 20 November 2009 from 7.00 to 8.00pm. While activities will be ongoing throughout the evening, due to broadcast commitments the best time we can accommodate photographers is after the South Today evening news programme and between the potential network broadcasts. Place: The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, SO42 7ZN. Please contact the ´óÏó´«Ã½ South publicist if you want to attend.

HB