Costa Bingo supporting children in need

LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Costa Bingo has announced it will donate £1 to the BBC's Children in Need Appeal for every winning Pudsey card.

A special Pudsey-shaped online bingo pattern has been created to raise money for the 82-year-old charity.

The online bingo site will donate £1 to Children in Need for every player who wins a 75-ball game on the Pudsey pattern.

"Our bingo cards offer many different winning patterns but we hope our players will put superstition to one side and play Pudsey," says Costa Bingo Operations Director Debbie Gent.

"It costs them nothing extra to play the charity card and - if they win – Children in Need get £1. We all think it's a no brainer and hope to raise lots of money for Children in Need."

David Ramsden, Chief Executive Officer of BBC Children in Need, says: "Every year we are both humbled and inspired by the extraordinary lengths our supporters go to raise money, and we hope this year is no exception. This is why we are asking for your support again in 2009."

Since the BBC Children in Need Appeal started in 1980, over £525m has been raised to make a real and tangible difference to the lives of disadvantaged youngsters.

The 2009 Children in Need Appeal will reach its crescendo with a star-studded BBC One TV show on Friday, November 20.