HE may make an ugly sister but when it comes to fundraising, Swindon Mayor David Cox is the man.

From dressing in drag for a panto to having a go at abseiling, Councillor Cox is always game for a laugh when it comes to backing a good cause.

There's been no stopping him this year in his efforts to support charity, his big three being the Rowdy Bunch disabled youngsters' club, the Breast Cancer Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital and the old folks' home El Hogar De Los Ancianos in Swindon's Nicaraguan twin town Ocotal.

And his efforts so far have netted an impressive £4,000.

He said: "I don't mind making a fool of myself at all. I enjoy dressing up and making myself look silly as long as it is benefiting a good cause."

Coun Cox (Lab, Toothill and Westlea) hit the ground running when he took on his auspicious role in May, already dubbed "marathon man" for his completion of 28 long distance events.

By August, the 54-year-old was hanging precariously off the side of the WH Smith building in Greenbridge in a fundraising stunt to raise money for the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Aptly, before flinging himself off the side, abseil novice Coun Cox uttered: "This year's motto is Actions not Words."

In September he was at it again, donning chef's apparel in Abbey Meads' new Toby Carvery to carve a joint, and boost the joint bank account of the Mayor's Charity Appeal by bagging a £1 donation from each meal sold.

Coun Cox's culinary collection was followed by becoming the first citizen to put on a waistcoat of pink balloons above his gold chain at Asda in West Swindon, all in aid of breast cancer awareness week.

Unfazed by making a spectacle of himself, in October the mayor strapped on a blindfold and tucked into a meal at Rudi's restaurant and bar in Regent Circus to promote World Sight Day.

He had accepted the gauntlet thrown down by West Swindon Lions Club to raise awareness of World Sight Day and the problem of blindness around the world.

After a spot of scuba diving at Wootton Bassett's Lime Kiln leisure centre, where he learned the ropes from his old pal and instructor Ian Purvis, by November the intrepid mayor was gearing up for perhaps his greatest adventure yet dressing up as a woman.

For the sake of the Pinehurst People's Centre's Christmas panto, Cinderella, Coun Cox wooed the crowds as an ugly sister complete with feather boa, bright red lips, beard, frilly dress and man's ultimate challenge tights.

"Us men aren't used to wearing anything so restrictive," Coun Cox groaned, make-up smeared atop his facial hair.

"Although I have worn them before to keep me warm when I go fishing, this is really a new experience."

And if you think Coun Cox wound down a touch over the Christmas festivities, think again.

His yuletide diary included attending a 102nd birthday bash, a nativity play at St Paul's Church in Covingham, and midnight mass at St Mark's Church in Faringdon.

Coun Cox said: "We've been very, very busy this year. The whole drive has been out of the council chamber, having a bit of fun and to demonstrate us politicians, especially when fundraising, enjoying the lighter side of life.

"Latest figures for the first seven months of the mayoral term show we have raised £4,000. We are very pleased with that. The people of Swindon have been absolutely marvellous and I can tell you that in the New Year we propose to have something interesting lined up to keep the drive going."

He added that although he is backing three major causes, he is willing to use the mayor's badge to help any other deserving group.