Red Nose Day silliness infiltrated dozens of businesses, schools, colleges and organisations helped raise a smile and money for the Comic Relief charity.

At Hartsdown Technology College in Margate, the daftness included an X Factor talent show, a spoof video of Peter Kay and Tony Christie’s Is This The Way To Amarillo, a sponsored red non-uniform day, a Year 8 quiz, a Spot the Teacher competition featuring photos of them as geeky teenagers, plus a cast of red-heads on the staff whose hair was dyed on the day by students who paid for the privilege.

Principal Andy Somers said: “Comic Relief highlights serious issues that are discussed by our students throughout the year and we are proud to offer our support to a great charity. Red Nose Day is our way of showing that Hartsdown cares and knows how to have fun.”

Five hundred pounds of the £1,000 raised by the school will go to Dad’s Quest, a fund raising appeal in aid of prostate cancer that has been launched by Hartsdown teacher Charlie Pepper, whose father died from the illness last year. The remainder will be donated to Comic Relief.

Students also helped younger pupils at St Peter’s junior school make red nose cakes for sale. The juniors also held a red raffle, a red assembly and a sponsored non-uniform day.

Romans from the wacky Thanet council grounds maintenance team raided local authority offices collecting money from staff before heading around the district to collect more.

Deputy Chief Executive John Bunnett said: “Our grounds maintenance team not only do a superb job of maintaining our parks and open spaces, but they also do an excellent job of raising money for good causes. They put so much effort into finding unusual ways to get people to put their hands in their pockets for good causes.”

Everybody has a bad hair day sometimes but students at Ellington School for Girls had a real shocker in aid of the charity.

Bouffant back-combed creations of all colours were proudly displayed on the catwalk in an alternative fashion parade that also featured girls in Goth outfits and ball gowns.

Other Red Nose Day events included a leg wax for head of Humanities John Lister, the sale of cakes baked by students, and a sponsored non-uniform day.

Assistant head teacher Loraine Bant said: “We raised more than £400 for Comic Relief which is a terrific effort for our school. We had a great time and thanks go to the staff and the girls for their enthusiasm in making it a day to remember, and to Mr Lister for being such a good sport.”

The Thanet council team collected £546 for the charity.

Cllr Shirley Tomlinson, Thanet council cabinet member for environmental services, said: "Our grounds maintenance team always do an excellent job of ensuring that staff give generously for charity and Comic Relief was no exception.

"They're not afraid to make fools of themselves to bring in cash for a good cause and, let's be honest, who would dare refuse a group of Romans asking for money?"