Thousands of people in Ipswich and across the county are gearing up for this year's Children in Need.

SUFFOLK: Thousands of people in Ipswich and across the county are gearing up for this year's Children in Need.

The annual appeal will take place on Friday with the aim of raising as much money as possible for disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

And among those collecting cash for the cause will be Suffolk police constable Dave Solomon who will be undertaking an unusual commute to work.

Pc Solomon, a driving and motorcycling instructor who usually commutes on a traditional two-wheeled bicycle, has pledged to travel by unicycle on his 3.75-mile journey from home to Suffolk Police Headquarters in Martlesham Heath.

He will ride along Broadlands Way, Rushmere, Penzance Road, Bell Lane and the A1214 cycle path through Kesgrave.

Colleague Colin Teager, Graeme Read, Gary Pooley and Caroline Brinkley will be escorting Pc Solomon along his route armed with collection buckets.

He hopes to arrive at Police Headquarters at around 8.30am.

Pc Solomon's challenge is made all the harder by the fact he is only eleven months on from major knee surgery and was a complete novice when first picking up a unicycle in August.

He said: “A unicycle is a very challenging beast to learn to ride. I have also needed to develop sufficient stamina to be able to pedal, what is in unicycling terms, an immense distance.”

Last year, the BBC Children in Need Appeal raised more than �38 million, which included a huge contribution from this region.

This year, with plenty more activities planned in Ipswich and Suffolk, The Evening Star is keen to hear from individuals and organisations about what you are doing to raise money.

Although we cannot guarantee to cover everything, we will do our best to print stories and pictures from the day.

Contact us by phone on 01473 324840, or by e-mail at starnews@eveningstar.co.uk or by popping into the office at 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich.