BBC Wiltshire is to visit Malmesbury as part of an epic challenge to raise funds for BBC Children in Need

With the 2019 BBC Children in Need Appeal show on the horizon, BBC Wiltshire is pulling out all the stops to show their support, and will be attempting to pull a giant Great Bustard bird around five Wiltshire towns and cities - Trowbridge, Swindon, Chippenham, Malmesbury and Salisbury – in the run up to the 2019 Appeal.

The giant replica of the iconic Wiltshire bird will be attached to a trailer and hand pulled 50 miles, over five days, by a team of staff including breakfast show presenter, Ben Prater.

Taking place from Monday, November 11, to Friday, November 15, the team will be visiting schools, businesses and town centres where locals will be encouraged to ‘Stuff the Bustard’ with money to raise funds for BBC Children in Need.

Ahead of the event, BBC Wiltshire presenter, Ben Prater said: “The team can’t wait to get going with the fundraising challenge for BBC Children in Need!

"Our giant Great Bustard will be pulled 50 miles around five towns and cities in Wiltshire and we will be encouraging locals along the way to help us raise funds by filling it with cash.

“Not only will this challenge support this year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal, we also hope it will inspire children and schools across the area to learn about the volunteers who have worked hard to ensure one hundred Great Bustards are now back living in the Wiltshire landscape after the bird was hunted to extinction – we are all delighted it has returned.”

BBC Children in Need currently funds 10 projects across Wiltshire with funding of more than £449,000 hard at work across the county.

The BBC Children in Need 2019 Appeal show is on BBC One on Friday, November 15.