Heard the one about the Town Hall being run by clowns?

Far be it for us to suggest such a thing - the admission has come direct from Lancaster City Council itself.

Dalton Square bosses admitted this week there are 'clowns' in the administration department.

So with clowns to the left and maybe jokers to the right, staff on reception will be stuck in the middle tomorrow (Friday) when they dress up as characters from top TV soap Coronation Street.

But before council tax payers start fearing for the sanity of the guardians of the borough, the 'temporary' madness is all in a good cause.

Council staff have decided to raise money for the BBC Children in Need appeal, and to quote the council 'a duo of clowns from the administration department' - and Mayor Cllr John Day - will serve lunch while receptionists will be dressed up as Bette Lynch, Hilda Ogden, Chesney and Liz McDonald.

The reception desk will be transformed into the Rovers Return and in order to raise as much money for Children in Need as possible, staff have organised a raffle and are encouraging colleagues to turn up to work in casual clothes and exchange coppers for comfort.