THOUSANDS of people across Wiltshire took part in a mammoth Red Nose Day to raise money for Comic Relief.

Children and adults bathed in baked beans, wore fancy dress and walked round with wacky hairstyles to raise thousands of pounds and smiles around the county.

At Asda in Trowbridge events included a contest between managers to eat the most jelly using chopsticks.

Staff at Wiltshire County Council released 1,000 balloons from a huge red nose on the front of County Hall in Trowbridge, raising around £1,100.

Council chairman Carole Soden said: "Over the years, Comic Relief has helped a lot of local charities.

"I'm sure the money that staff have generously donated this year will help hundreds of other needy people both in the UK and Africa."

Schoolchildren and teachers played their part by organising madcap fundraising events throughout the day.

Pupils at Minster School treated parents to a fashion parade in the morning when they had the chance to show off their crazy hairstyles.

Headteacher Kim Lyne said: "The pupils had loads of fun in class.

"But we made sure they knew why they were doing it by using the Comic Relief teacher packs to show them that we were raising money for people less fortunate than themselves."

Schoolchildren at Fitzmaurice Primary School in Bradford School were beaten 3-1 by teachers in a sponsored netball game.

But despite the embarrassment they still helped raise more than £500 for the cause.

Virgin Mobile staff swapped red eyes for red noses when they manned phone lines on Friday night.

Bath rugby players joined them at their Trowbridge offices to take pledges for the charity.

Customer relationship director Andrew Ralston said: "Virgin Mobile's staff are always game for a laugh, especially in the name of a good cause."

Trowbridge Oaks nursing home and Avon Park residential home also raised hundreds of pounds.

And at Woodland Tots children were able to take part in a special assault course which included them crawling through special tunnels.

Since 1985 Comic Relief has raised more than £250 million from eight Red Nose Days and other events including Sport Relief in 2001.

This year more than £30 million was raised on Friday and organisers expect to top the £60 million mark when all the pledges are collected.