CRAZY capers, silly stunts and madcap mirth abounded as young and old said 'Pants to poverty!'

Events all around Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale raised thousands of pounds for the BBC TV appeal Comic Relief.

Two workers at Asda in Rawtenstall Lynne Illand and Nerisse Henry took it in turns to sit in a bath full of tins of plum tomatoes -- the nearest thing they could find to red noses.

Ttheir colleagues Matt Bromley and Mark Skillings agreed to have their chest and legs waxed smooth. The rest of the staff paid £1 to wear red, spray their red and of course sport red noses.

At Burnley Wood One Stop Shop some youth workers had their hair dyed permanently bright red while other opted for green beards. They hope to have raised £500.

Youth works project co-ordinator Beverley Worthington said: "We thought it would be a good idea for the staff to do something different so instead of red noses for a day it's red hair for a lot longer!"

Children at Burnley General Hospital's Outpatients Department and on the wards had a fun day with staff dressed in red, a stall selling cherry bakewells, a red tombola, name the doll and guess the number of chocolates in the box. By lunchtime they had already raised £150.

At the Little People Nursery in Colne, children and staff dressed in red, made biscuits with red noses and held a raffle for parents. They are set to have raised about £50.

Red was the colour of the day for pupils who attend Towneley High and Barden High Schools in Burnley and St Mary's RC School in Bacup where more than £130 was raised. At Barnoldswick's Silentnight Beds a duck day was held and directors and managers washed employees' cars for a £3 donation.

Staff at Razors Unisex Hairstylist in Burnley Road, Bacup, wore their underwear over the top of their normal black uniforms, made buns to sell, held a raffle for a large teddy bear and put in red hair extensions for customers.

At Sainsbury's loading bay in Burnley people were given the chance to try out abseiling and at the leisure centre at the Oaks Hotel in Reedley there was a row in.

A pyjama party was held for children at Captain Coconuts at the Old Cobblers, Newhallhey, Rawtenstall, and at the Old Fire Station in Rawtenstall children and adults donned '60s and '70s dress for a fund-raising disco.

Directors of the Reality Group's contact centre at Kingsway, Burnley, revealed all in their own 'Full Monty' show and also held a Who Wants to be a Millionaire quiz with the winner being given a paid day off work.

And at AMF Bowling there was a bad taste night with unlimited bowling for £10 per person and a DJ to keep the fun going.