PEOPLE across the Okehampton area have been hard at work raising funds for Children in Need.

A number of schools and playgroups held special events to raise cash for the charity.

Okehampton driving instructor Jacqui Dobson and one of her learner drivers took part in The Big Learner Relay on Monday evening last week.

Jacqui and her pupil Fran Matthews, 17, led a convoy of cars from Okehampton to Crediton, as part of a nationwide relay involving hundreds of driving instructors and their pupils to raise money for Children in Need.

Fran, who lives in North Tawton, was at the wheel on the 18-mile journey, with other learner drivers and their instructors from Tavistock and Plymouth, in the cars behind.

‘It went really well,’ said Jacqui. ‘It was Fran’s first time driving in the dark and she had to drive in the dark with five people following her. She did really well, and I was also able to talk to her working towards her driving test too. It was really successful.’

Also taking part was driving instructor Lou Walsh, the founder of The Big Learner Relay, who has taken part in every stage of the nationwide relay. The relay covers 3,000 miles over 15 days in aid of the BBC fundraising initiative, which has raised £250,000 to help disadvantaged children over three years. It finishes at Knowsley Safari Park on Merseyside.

Each stage of the relay involves a learner driver – and their instructor – taking the lead, with a Pudsey ‘top box’ on the roof that they then pass to the next driver in the relay.

Jacqui and Fran were passed the ‘top box’ from the previous driving duo, who completed the leg from Tavistock to Okehampton. They set off from Waitrose car park in Okehampton towards Crediton at 7pm. They have so far raised more than £200 for Children in Need from supporters.

Pictures by James Bird.