AN outbreak of lunacy strikes Swindon every November as perfectly normal people indulge in bizarre behaviour.

The BBC Children in Need Appeal has always been well supported in the town. More than £135,000 was raised in the Wiltshire last year and the support remains as strong as ever.

Hair loss and madness seemed particularly popular ways of raising money this time.

Perhaps the bravest fundraiser in Swindon was 45-year-old Martin Jones.

Martin had not had a hair cut since the day before his wedding in 1995. His pony tail stretched to 18 inches before the scissors did their worst.

The tenancy enforcement officer for Swindon Borough Council said: "I won't be growing it back. I have been threatening to do it for a year."

He joked the lack of hair would hopefully stop little old ladies approaching him in supermarkets and saying 'excuse me Miss.' Colleagues contributed £300 to Children in Need.

Also for the chop were staff at Swindon College North Star.

Six colleagues shaved off their locks for the charity.

They included another ponytail victim, Richard Turpin. He joked: "I'm re-inventing myself."

Colleague Kevin Sharp also managed to see the funny side. "I'm fed up with making the girls jealous of my dark curls," he said.

Fundraising started early, with students at Swindon College staging a jailbreak to raise cash.

The group was led by 20-year-old Ndidiamaka Iroha. "We are hoping to raise about £1,000 from the event. We have already raised £600," she said.

The students were challenged to get as far away from Swindon as possible without using any money. They hoped generous train operators would allow them to travel to London, where further fundraising would take place, before getting back to Swindon for a 5pm deadline.

Shoppers at the Outlet Village were greeted by a rather unusual sight.

A Mad Hatter's tea party was in full swing throughout the day.

Members of Rachel's Nursing Agency transformed themselves into Alice, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts.

Rachel Battershell said: "We're hoping to raise as much as possible. Are we all bonkers? I think we have to be."

The Bright Horizon Day Nursery in Peatmoor entered into the spirit of the occasion by holding a breakfast raffle and Hawaiian day.

Staff at Boots celebrated by dressing up as cowboys; Reed Accountancy staff organised a charity quiz night and auction which netted £1,500; and the Swindon Royal British Legion Corps of Drums were today raising money by performing a concert in Emlyn Square.

The Kings Arms pub hosted a business breakfast organised by the Stroud and Swindon Building Society and a Chiseldon child-minding group enjoyed an obstacle course and cake stall.

Many Swindon businesses, shops and community groups dressed up, rattled tins and generally performed silly stunts to boost the Children in Need total.