FYLDE fundraisers pulled out all the stops to ensure that Comic Relief 1999 remains on course for the record books.

Schools, shops and supermarkets all got in on the act as part of this year's Red Nose Day (March 12), sub-titled The Record Breaker.

And the Comic Relief Millennium Gnome dropped in on Blackpool to encourage the local fund-raising effort.

The 30ft gnome, accompanied by its keeper James Lovell, visited the town as part of a nationwide tour to drum up support for Red Nose Day.

Pupils at Stanah County Primary School in Cleveleys raised nearly £400 with a competition to find the class who could make the longest line of coins around the school.

There was a pyjama party at the Royal Bank of Scotland's Poulton branch where staff came to work in their nightwear and sold cakes at the counter, raising more than £160.

Sainsbury's supermarket in Bispham raised more than £2,000 by offering Wine Relief. Customers were challenged to tell the difference between red and white wine in a blindfolded tasting session at the Red Bank Road store.

Provisions manager Martin Browitt even made his own contribution to the fundraising effort by abseiling down the side of the Sainsbury's building.

But the biggest eye-opener was at Stringers department store in Lytham where staff stopped the traffic by spending Red Nose Day as live mannequins in the store's display window. They began the day modelling pyjamas, then worked their way through sportswear, ladies fashion, swimwear and even lingerie, raising more than £1,100.

Punters at the Highfield Hotel, Highfield Road, Blackpool, also put their hands in their pockets to raise more than £300. One regular even offered to have his hair shaved off .

Manger Carol McCann said: "Everyone in the pub was really generous. They all put their hands in their pockets to help out."

Early indications suggest that this year's Comic Relief will be a record breaker.

The total amount pledged nationwide passed £16 million by Saturday morning (March 13), and the final total is expected to break the record £27 million raised by the last Red Nose Day.

Comic Relief will continue to take telephone donations until the end of April on (0345) 460460. Calls are charged at a local rate. You can also donate via their website at http://www.comicrelief.org.uk.

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