The record, which started life as a BBC promotional campaign featuring everyone from its writer Lou Reed to Sir Elton John and Tammy Wynette, was a close contender for last year's Christmas number one.

However, the bulk of the 1997 Children In Need final total of £20.9m was not raised by the stars, but by thousands of children and other small fundraisers around the country.

The figure was disclosed as hosts Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin launched this year's appeal with the publication of the Children In Need annual report.

"You were tremendous and your fundraising reached new heights," said Gaby.

Children In Need director Julia Kaufmann said: "The magnificent total of £20.9m was achieved without the involvement of any professional fundraisers."

Pudsey Bear will again be on hand to help the fundraising

Small contributors collected coins, held jumble sales and staged sponsored events to boost the £12.68m donation total. Other money was raised by merchandise, legacies, credit card donations and bank interest.

So far, £4.3m of last year's money has been targeted at children with mental or physical disabilities, £1.3m at those with psychological or behavioural problems, £7.5m at children in poverty and £5m at the sick or those suffering abuse or neglect.

The biggest grant was £500,000 to the Family Welfare Association so it could help individual children in emergencies. Among the smallest was £100 to a Glasgow nursery school to get a video recorder.