TED'S Big Day Out! could raise more than £75,000 for the Royal United Hospital, in Bath in one day.

Nearly 500 organisations have registered their fundraising events for the fourth annual fundraiser, on October 10, already and more registrations are coming in each day.

Organisers predict they may not smash previous numbers of registrations, but are confident they will raise more than last year's £75,000 on the day. Money raised will be collected by the Forever Friends Appeal, which has a teddy bear mascot called Ted.

Events officer for the appeal Ruth Wilkinson said: "If we can keep clocking up this number of registrations per day over the next four weeks, then we will certainly be on course for the biggest Ted's Big Day Out! yet."

Staff at jewellers F Hinds, in Trowbridge, will dress up as doctors and nurses, while Madelaine Sadler, from Westbury, is holding a dinner party to raise money.

Several schools and businesses in west Wiltshire have registered to hold a take your teddy to work day.

All money raised will help pay for new equipment and facilities.

Budding artists must hurry to get their entries in to the Wiltshire Times by 9am on Monday, for Ted's Big Art Competition 2003.