Scotland helps Children in Need

The show aimed for and beat a £12m total

Scotland dug deep to raise £654,704 for the BBC's Children in Need appeal.

And that total - which beat last year's figure of £585,644 - is likely to increase as donations continue to arrive for the fund.

Across the UK the total topped £12m - with a retired builder promising to pledge £1m.

In Scotland, hosts Jackie Bird, Fred MacAulay and Gail Porter were joined by celebrities including Boyzone stars Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch, Atomic Kitten and Gregory's Girl star Claire Grogan.

S Club 7: Official Children in Need song

The show also included a fundraising effort by the 29-strong Castaways taking part in the BBC documentary on the Hebridean island of Taransay - who appropriately sang Abba's hit SOS.

The generosity of builder Robert Hitchins, 86 - who rang BBC Radio Guernsey to make his £1m pledge - meant that the appeal beat last year's £11.6m.

His pledge came during the 21st televised Children in Need event.

S-Club 7 kicked off the appeal with their new single - the official Children in Need song - Never Had a Dream Come True.

Stars from the world of television, pop and sport joined forces with members of the public to help raise money for children's charities.

Live event

Ronan Keating and Melanie C from the Spice Girls were among the performers.

Presenters Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin hosted the live studio event from the BBC's Television Centre in London.

They announced £12,244,764 had been raised by the show's end at 0200GMT on Saturday after people across the country took part in a wide range of fund-raising activities during the day.

After last year's appeal, £18.8m was eventually distributed to children's charities.

Since the event was first televised in 1980, £273m has been raised.

Donations can be made by calling 08457 33 22 33