Who's got mad March hair?

Mr Chamberlain, whose hair is usually brown, is now sporting a pillar-box red barnet and what's more, he's been running around the nearby villages with the unusual hairdo.

But it's all been in a good cause; Mr Chamberlain and six other staff from the Chippenham store have been taking part in a nationwide relay race for Comic Relief.

Setting off from the Bath Road store at 12.30pm on Monday, the sextet ran the four miles to the Melksham branch of Sainsbury's in 45 minutes, where they then handed on a baton to waiting staff.

The Melksham runners will run to the Bath store tomorrow, which is Red Nose Day, to continue the relay.

Mr Chamberlain, 37, explained: "Stores all around the county are taking part to raise money and we thought it would be a laugh to dye our hair and outfits red for the occasion unfortunately, I was the only one to go the whole hog and go for the dye bottle.

"It's very embarrassing walking around the store like it. I've had lots of comments and the customers seem to think it's a giggle."

But it's all been worthwhile. Mr Chamberlain and his fellow runners have already raised about £500 for Comic Relief.

On Red Nose Day itself, staff at the store will be following the manager's lead and wearing red outfits and matching wigs to persuade customers to donate cash. They will also be taking part in a draw for a paid day off.

The fun-packed run-up to Comic Relief continues at Chippenham's Littlewoods and Index store in Borough Parade, where staff have gone pedalling mad for charity cycling from Land's End to John O' Groats without leaving the shopping centre.

The 822-mile bike ride is taking place on an exercise bike outside the store and it was started by North Wiltshire District Council chairman Brian Atfield.

Watched by staff and shoppers, Mr Hatfield said he was glad to do his bit. And he isn't the only VIP taking to the saddle to help.

The ten-day cyclathon will end tomorrow, when Mayor Richard Meek will cycle the last few miles.

Store manager Andy Slocombe explained: "All the staff have been doing their bit, with stints on the bike during their shifts and we're clocking up the miles at the amazing rate of around 58 a day.

"If we keep cycling at this rate, we may even be able to turn around at John O'Groats and begin making our way back again, by the time the mayor joins us tomorrow."

The store has also organised a raffle, with star prizes of two official 'RND03' T-shirts, one signed by the cast of The Bill, and one by the cast of Emmerdale.

Anyone who wants to take part in the draw needs to make a minimum £1 donation to Comic Relief.

Thorntons@Signature will be in-store on Red Nose Day offering free samples to every customer.

Meanwhile at Corsham Regis School, teacher Tristan Middleton is preparing to lose face for Comic Relief when three pupils will be shaving his beard off.

The pupil who raises the most for Comic Relief will have the first turn on the electric shaver. A further two fundraising pupils will have their names pulled out of a hat and have the chance to shave Mr Middleton's beard off.

"The other staff members think I am mad. But I think I will be growing it straight back," he said.

Mr Middleton said the shaving idea only came about because of a joke.

"One of the children asked me if I was going to shave my hair off for Comic Relief. I said no, but I would shave my beard off. I was only joking but they took my word for it and I couldn't get out of it," he said. "I was tricked into it."

He said that the pupils were really excited at the prospect of shaving his beard, which Mr Middleton has sported for the last eight years, and have become quite competitive in their fundraising efforts.

He added: "The whole school is having a non-uniform and bad hair day. Other staff will be coming in with bad hair and one teacher is having her hair dyed by the pupils. It should be a really fun day."

In Devizes, being able to advise visitors and local people on the best places to visit is just a question of learning it parrot fashion, as helpers at Devizes Visitor Centre in the Market Place will attest.

But one of their volunteers, Sue Holloway, is setting visitors a conundrum by asking them to guess the name of her parrot as part of their fundraising activities for Comic Relief.

For an entry fee of £1, they will be asked to choose from a list of possibilities.

The prize, they say, will depend on the age of the winner but will, of course, be generous.

Centre supervisor Maggie Moore said: "The staff pride themselves on being able to answer, or find out the answer to, nearly all inquiries. This time it is us who are asking the question."

She added: "Come along and talk to our parrot. You never know what he might tell you."

Over at Kennet District Council's offices, staff will have all the right ingredients for Comic Relief when they bake cakes made from Fairtrade products and sell them to colleagues on Red Nose Day.

A mini fete is being held in the afternoon where there will be a tombola stall among other attractions.