FROM fancy dress costumes and body painting to unicycling, people around Redditch raised money for Comic Relief in all kinds of different ways.

Ridgeway Middle School pupil Megan Luck, 10, unicycled around Arrow Valley Park joined by friends on roller skates, space hoppers and bikes.

Her mum Lindsey said: "It was quite chilly but they all made the two laps. They got round no problem and managed to raise about £800.

Youngsters from Little Sneakers Nursery, in Lodge Park, did a relay race around Lodge Pool to teach kids about healthy living.

Jo Pearce, link manager, said: "It went really well, we're looking at about £250. Everybody really enjoyed themselves and the kids loved it."

Staff and children at Tinkerbells Nursery in West Avenue, Smallwood, dressed up in red and painted their noses, raising more than £90.

At Matchborough First School funny fish and comic curry were just some of the dishes available on a special Lenny Henry, Red Nose Day menu. The school raised £125.

At the Kingfisher Centre, staff at the First Choice Travel shop held a weekend-long pyjama party and raised £100, while The Chicago Rock Cafe, in the town centre, raised £157.

Bright Kids, a nursery in Studley, raised £86 by doing a variety of activities including dressing up, making cakes and biscuits and making a giant nose to collect the money in.

First Midland Red Bus drivers in Redditch contributed towards £10,000 raised nationally and staff at Mirror Mirror, on Unicorn Hill, raised £55 by dressing up in wigs and hats.

Redditch Day Care, which work with adults with learning difficulties, raised £60 by dressing up. Newtown Vehicle Rentals, on Junction 3 on the M42, held slave auctions and raffles and managed to raise about £800, while staff from NatWest in Redditch spent the day dressed as cowboys and indians and did a raffle and guess who was the baby competition to raise £200.

All money raised will to go towards supporting projects in Africa and helping disadvantaged people in the UK.