IT WAS a record-breaking year for this year’s Comic Relief, and the people of Basingstoke showed their support for the charity appeal, helping to raise an incredible £78million total.

Schools, businesses, community groups and individuals across the borough organised whacky fundraising activities for Red Nose Day last Friday, helping to push the appeal’s 30-year total to more than £1billion.

Staff at the town’s two Sainsbury’s stores pulled out all the stops to ensure a bumper day of fundraising, especially at The Malls Shopping Centre where shoppers were treated to fun and games, raising just over £4,000, which was added to the £12,000 of Red Nose Day merchandise sold.

Sainsbury’s Basingstoke store manager Paul Beesley, who had a leg waxed as part of the day’s events, said: “I’d like to give a massive thank you to all my colleagues who gave their support dressing up and getting involved, and also to the people of Basingstoke who chipped in.

“Without them we wouldn’t have had any fundraising.”

He added: “Looking at my smooth leg will remind me of how much fun we had on Red Nose Day and what it was all about, helping many people in Africa and in this country.”

Thirty members of the leisure and spa club at The Hampshire Court Hotel in Chineham took part in a two-hour ‘Bexathon’ 1980s style fitness class.

Led by studio co-ordinator Bex Burniston, they were dressed in bright colours complete with leg warmers and sweat bands.

At Queen Mary’s College, around 140 students, lecturers and members of the public participated in a 24-hour indoor football match, raising nearly £1,000.

Meanwhile, pupils at Kingsclere Primary School watched in delight as their headteacher Steve Walls and a Year 6 pupil were gunged in a disgusting concoction of custard, baked beans and spaghetti rings, raising £720.

Children and staff at Kiddi Caru’s Basingstoke day nursery enjoyed a wild tea party and jungle themed cake sale.

They also enjoyed a Dancethon, bopping along to The Jungle Book’s I Wanna Be Like You.

Nursery manager Suzanne Chilvers said: “The children all love Red Nose Day and having fun, so the theme of ‘aping around’ was absolutely perfect.”

Over in North Warnborough, The Seven Dwarfs proved to be a colourful sight at The Purcell Rooms, as staff dressed up for the salon’s seventh anniversary and to raise cash for Comic Relief.

On Saturday, education charity Inspero held a Red Nose Day bake-off at Aldworth School, while Basingstoke & Mid Hants Athletic Club raised more than £300 when 52 athletes in fancy dress competed in a 4 x 400m obstacle relay at Down Grange.