SCHOOLS and businesses across Sussex have been ditching their day-to-day dress and donning their wackiest woollies for Christmas Jumper Day.

Even dogs have been getting into the spirit with two-year-old bulldog Brooklyn posing in her festive best.

This is the time of year many of us wear specially designed sweaters to celebrate the season.

Charity Save The Children is helping to raise cash with many donating £2 to wear their jolly jumpers in the office or at school.

Staff at Brighton Palace Pier got in on the act as well as employees at The Grand hotel and pupils and teachers at St John’s School and College, who all chipped in for the charity.

Simon Charleton, principal of St John’s School and College in Walpole Road, said: “Save The Children Christmas Jumper Day has been a fantastic success and we have seen some unusual and very individual outfits.”

Anne Ackord, chief executive of Brighton Palace Group, said: “Christmas Jumper Day combines fun with charity and that is a huge part of what Christmas is all about.”

Brooklyn’s owner Vanessa Worrall, who owns The Bull in Ditchling, said: “She’s just turned two and I bought her these outfits as a birthday present.

“Brooklyn doesn’t mind dressing up at all.

“My eight-year-old daughter has stuck the reindeer antlers on her before and she loves the attention.

“She is our pub dog at The Bull in Ditchling and people love her.”

This is a bumper time of year for sales of woollens, with £220 million expected to be spent on tinselly tops.

Often the garish garments are for Christmas, not for life, with one in four jumpers bought last year either binned or unlikely to be worn again.

Christmas Jumper Day 2017 is raising funds for Save The Children, which supports children in 120 countries to get the healthcare, food and water, safety and education they need.

Five million people are expected to have taken part in the national event and Save The Children hopes to smash their £4 million fundraising target.