PEOPLE all over East Lancashire were seen sporting red noses and wearing their pants outside their trousers as the country united to say pants to poverty.

Hundreds of people in the area including some familiar faces joined in the fun on Red Nose Day 2001 and thousands of pounds were raised to go to projects in Britain and Africa.

Blackburn Rovers captain Garry Flitcroft lead the way as he had a red nose fitted by staff at Beardwood Hospital. The nurse that fitted it had to keep as professional as ever, Josie Leaver is an avid Burnley fan so operating on the captain of their great rivals brought pressures of a different kind.

Staff at the hospital also raised money by having their faces painted in a comic relief style.

Student nurses at Queen's Park Hospital pushed a bed around the wards. The cash buckets attached to the bed quickly filled up as the bed made its way around the hospital.

Representatives from Project 66 in Blackburn had double reason to raise money. A sofa was pushed from their offices on Preston New Road to their new centre on Leamington Street by staff showing off their pants.

Blackburn College's Hair and Beauty Department painted themselves and the town red. Philip Biggs was sponsored to dye his hair bright red and all students and staff came dressed in red.

They raffled two hampers of red foods and have so far raised more than £200.

Children and teenagers also joined in the fun.

St Peter's Primary School, Turncroft Road, Darwen held a 'wacky hair and wrong trousers' day while children at Les Enfants Nursery in Darwen held a fundraising party.

At Moor End Primary School, Oswaldtwistle, more than £300 was raised by pupils who paid money to come to school in the wrong trousers. A bit of competition was added to the day with prizes for the best infant and junior up for grabs. Ben Jackson, 5, won the infants and ten-year-old Amber Conlan won the juniors.

It was a bad hair day all round at St James' School, Clitheroe, as each pupil paid 50p to come in with messy hair.

About a dozen pupils sang outside Sainsbury's in the town and so far the total raised is £281. Heathland School in Accrington raised more than £100 with non-uniform and red dress days.

And Moorhead High School in Accrington, Beechwood Day Nursery and Ashleigh Nursery in Blackburn and Chapels Nursery in Darwen all held events to add to the national total.