£74m red-nosed record-breaker

Children take charge: Teachers at Buckstones Primary School were given their orders by pupils who took charge of lessons. Natalie Oldham had the upper hand after raising money in the Sponsor Me To Be Our Teacher event.

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HUNDREDS of Oldham fund-raisers painted the town red as they showed their true charity colours.

From congas to custard pies, pyjama parties to head shaving, wacky Comic Relief efforts were a joy to behold, with locals donning their cheeky red noses for the cause.

A record-breaking £74 million was raised during the BBC event on Friday night, with thousands more still expected to be collected.

Pupils at Failsworth School lead the way to change the lives of children in Africa and across the UK.

It was a test of endurance for staff and teens as they tackled a treadmill marathon of 26 miles.

Staff stepped up their comedy act by dressing as the 118 men as Year 9 pupils also tried to row the 21-mile width of the English Channel on rowing machines.

Fund-raising was a far more laid back affair for youngsters at Stepping Stones Nursery in Uppermill.

The tots sported striped, spotty and colourful pyjamas to nursery and paid £1 for the privilege.

Proving anything the tots can do the adults can match, beer suppers at Flowerpot in Royton also donned their pyjamas for a fantastic fund-raiser.

Punters were pampered with a leg-waxing session for the boys while landlady Carol Turner took the plunge and had her head shaved for the cause.

Doing something funny for money, youngsters at Littlemoor School got their own back and turned on their teachers. Some were shaved of their hair, others were hit by custard pies and a giant bucket of beans was even tipped on brave teacher Chris Kennedy. Likewise plucky pupils at Buckstones Primary School took charge of the lessons after a bonanza Sponsor Me To Be Our Teacher challenge.

It was party time at Vicki Lees Hair Studio in Shaw, with free wine, nibbles and a raffle adding to their grand total.

Sportsmen from Tara Leisure plucked up the courage to be stripped of the leg hair at the Duchess Street salon. Students at Oldham Sixth-Form College got to live out their dreams by soaking their boss with a barrage of soggy sponges.

Even teachers got in on the act as IT technician Peter Gee stepped up to the plate to take a shot at Principal Jayne Clarke behind a giant red nose target.

Red noses got a reworking at St Mary’s School in High Crompton, with pupils each showcasing their creative flair and designing their own noses.

Pupils from St Joseph’s Primary School made a splash to raise some cash by swimming 72 lengths, the equivalent of a mile, before jogging, skipping and crawling two mile in fancy dress.

Tutus, wigs and leg warmers were the order of the day for a rollicking retro fund-raising by staff at rheumatology specialist Pennine MSK Partnership Ltd.

Over 30 staff took the Integrated Care Centre by storm in Oldham, dressed head-to-toe in red.

Tasty biscuits were baked by youngsters for sale at Kingsland School in Failsworth.

Both North Chadderton School and Royton and Crompton School pupils put on song and dance spectacular with comic relief variety shows.

A whole raft of youngsters went bananas in pyjamas for Red Nose Day including tots at Bees Knees mother and toddler group in Greenacres and Kids R Us nursery in Chadderton.



STUDENTS made a splash at Oldham Sixth Form College and took full advantage of soaking their head with a wet, soggy sponge. Even teachers got in on the act as IT technician Peter Gee stepped up to the plate to take a shot at Principal Jayne Clarke.



Shiver me timbers... a pirate-themed Comic Relief event at the Vicki Lees Hair Studio in Shaw saw a fun-filled day of doing something funny for money.



A RIOT of colour helped to raise money at Hathershaw College, where funky knitted Red Nose hats were made by one fun-loving mum, Carol Bell.



TOTS at Kids R Us nursery in Chadderton kicked back in their pyjamas for the day to raise money for the good cause.



RED noses got a remodel at St Mary’s School in High Crompton, as pupils came up with their own designs for a fund-raising competition.



TALENTED students and staff at North Chadderton School took centre stage with a variety show for Comic Relief.



WENDY Hopwood and her daughter Molly Leigh Cregan were among those going bananas in pyjamas for Red Nose Day. Members of the Wee Bees mother-and-toddler group at Greenacres Community Centre turned up in their PJs, as well as decorating and selling cakes.



ROYTON and Crompton School pupils showed off their talents at a Comic Relief concert.



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