RED nose madness hit the streets, shops, schools and stores in East Lancashire as the funniest fund-raiser captured people's imagination.

Thousands of pounds were raised across the area with more than £13million raised nationwide.

People did the silliest of things including the caretaker of West Street Primary School, Colne, Bob French, who went round with half a beard.

One side of his face was cleanly shaved in the morning and by the end of the school day he had lost the lot. Along with other events, the school raised more than £100.

Teachers at Burnley's Casterton Primary School came up with an clever way of keeping the cash coming - a red nose thermometer.

Once £25 had been reached teachers told jokes, at £50 the Spicey Girls took to the stage, £75 meant headteacher Judith Williams was hit with custard pies and after £100 had been passed deputy head Tony Emmott bade a fond farewell to the moustache he had proudly sported for 16 years.

Teachers faced a barrage of footballs at Burnley's Todmorden Road Primary School as youngsters took part in a penalty shoot-out. Teacher Barbara Bennion said: "They paid 30p to wear silly jumpers, took part in a guess the baby competition with pictures of the teachers as babies and we raised more than £150."

Youngsters at several primary and high schools held non-uniform days and at Ivy Bank High, Burnley, they also sold cakes. Youngsters at Brierfield's Mansfield High held a Stars In Their Eyes contest.

Burnley's Inland Revenue Office went completely bonkers dressing up in way out tasteless clothes and revenue executive Steve Haydock even turned up dressed as a woman and performed a strip tease!

Barbara Males, revenue assistant, said: "A lot of us already have pet charities which we support and we went to Sainsbury's to get some red noses to support Comic Relief. When we found the store had sold out we decided to hold a fund-raiser in the office instead.

"People were dressed the the most horrendous clothes, kipper ties, tartan tights and Dr Martens and we at lunchtime we all went out to Bar Mambo."

It was an energetic day at work for three policemen from Haslingden as they rowed 10,000m in Waterfoot police station. Sgt Dave Hodson and PCs Mick Belfield, Martin Melvin and Steve Charnley are all members of the operational support unit. Dave said: "We have to keep fit as policemen so we decided to keep fit by rowing and also raising money for the charity. We have raised more than £150."

Two teams from the Kestrel Leisure Club, in Burnley, also rowed their way to raise pounds completing a staggering 100,000m.

At Rawtenstall accountants Kingfisher Partnership partners Martin kemp and John and Tricia Calway donnes pinnies and served tea and buns to staff.

John also scaled a ladder to attach a giant red nose to the company's kingfisher logo.

And red and green might not be colours to be seen in, but they worked well at Oliver's Bar in Burnley Mechanics when staff combined an early St Patrick's Night celebration with a Red Nose fund-raiser.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.