THERE were red noses galore throughout Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire last week – with scores of schools and businesses joining in to celebrate Comic Relief and raise funds for charity.

Red Nose Day fell on Friday, March 13, and adults and children across the county were more than eager to get involved in a number of unique ways.

From baths full of baked beans to danceathons and jelly assault courses – this year’s red nose day celebrations will be tough to top.

Pupils at Woodlands Nursery in Yate took part in a 'Wobbly Jelly Assault Course' and ran raffles throughout the day, while students at Yate International Academy took on a range of activities including 'soak-a-teacher', karaoke and penalty competitions. Five teachers were drenched by students at YIA including assistant principal Allan Parris.

Elsewhere in Yate a dance crew raised £1,400 during a 24-hour 'danceathon' event in aid of Comic Relief. Pure Dance Crew, a group of 11 members aged between 10 and 40 years old, took on the challenge to raise funds for the charity.

Continuing on the dancing theme, several different units in the Severnvale Division of Girlguiding also took part in a danceathon in support of the day. The girls, aged from five to 14, were sponsored to bust some moves for a period of six hours.

A Beaver group in Alveston had a session that was a far stretch from their usual activities by doing things to help make their parents and families feel happy while raising money for charity. Instead of the usual fun and games, the 14 members of the 2nd Alveston Beavers, all aged between six and eight, talked about an ideal world where no one was prevented from feeling good by unfair circumstance.

In Gloucestershire a primary school held a competition with the winning prize being the opportunity to paint the headteacher’s face. Cam Everlands pupil Corrie Beard, 11, won the competition and painted the face of head Craig Jones.

In Dursley, two employees of the local pool went for the classic Comic Relief challenge of bathing in a tub of baked beans. Tom Smith and Sam Coxhead took on the sloppy challenge together.

Just up the road at Dursley's Rednock School, pupils and staff donned fancy dress and red noses to show their support for the cause.

All those taking part in the events had a lot of fun – but also raised money for a worthwhile cause.

You can still make a donation to transform lives in the UK and Africa. Do so by visiting www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday