Frying tonight takes on a whole new meaning as customers at a Fakenham fish and chip shop find themselves caught up in the magical topsy turvey world of Lewis Carroll's fantasy tale, Alice in Wonderland.

Frying tonight takes on a whole new meaning as customers at a Fakenham fish and chip shop find themselves caught up in the magical topsy turvey world of Lewis Carroll's fantasy tale, Alice in Wonderland.

For staff at the popular Drifters chippie on the town's Oak Street are continuing their tradition of supporting the BBC Children in Need appeal by dressing up as characters from the world famous story.

So from today until the shop closes for the weekend on Saturday night managers Jonathan Hollings and Mark Hollings and their eight-strong staff will be working behind the fryer, in the kitchen and restaurant in the guise of the famous characters including Alice, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the King and Queen of Hearts, the Mock Turtle, the March Hare the Dodo and Bill the Lizzard.

This is the seventh year that the shop's staff have raised cash for the children's charity and over the years Jonathan Hollings believes they have raised between �7,000 and �8,000 for the cause. Their previous fancy dress outfits have included tramps and tarts and The Wizard of Oz.

This year, for the first time, they have organised a raffle and were staggered by the massive generous response from Fakenham area traders, businesses and individuals. So much so that there are no less than 111 prizes including �250 cash, a flat-screen television and holiday vouchers. The raffle has so far raised more than �2,000.

Mr Hollings said that all the staff readily enter into the spirit of the event and the customers love it and respond generously to collection boxes in the shop. Assistant manager Andrew Felton did a lot of the work in organising the event.

“This is the seventh year that we have taken part in fundraising for Children in Need and over the years our loyal customers have responded very generously. We hope they will respond equally well this year. We are delighted by the response for our request for raffle prizes the town's traders, businesses and private individuals have done us proud and we sincerely thank them,” said Mr Hollings.