BBC Children in Need has broken its previous fundraising record, with post-telethon donations taking its total for the 2009 event past £39m.

Last November’s event made £20.3m on the night, less than the £21.0m raised the previous year, but additional donations from fundraisers and supporters in the aftermath have taken the final figure above 2008’s final total of £38.2m.

The charity says it is hopeful the £39m figure will continue to rise as it will not close its books until September.

Presenter and trustee Terry Wogan announced the figure on Chris Evans’ BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, a show he himself presented until December last year.