Scores of people are taking part in fun-filled events across the region today in a bid to raise buckets of cash for Red Nose Day.

Businesses, schools and community groups are all attempting to 'do something for funny' to make this year's Comic Relief a landmark occasion.

One Norwich school welcomed Chloe Smith MP to join a special morning assembly as part of their Red Nose Day celebrations.

Staff and students at Sprowston Junior School invited the MP for Norwich North to give a talk to pupils about her role as a member of parliament for the school's Aspirations Week.

During the event, children and teachers donated a pound to come dressed in red or as the job they aspired to do when they were older.

Miss Smith said: 'It's great fun to take part in Red Nose Day. In addition, it is always a privilege to talk about the job I do. I tried to encourage the pupils to think imaginatively about what they might do when they are older.'

Meanwhile, staff at Metcalfe Copeman & Pettefar Solicitors in Thetford have already raised �153 for Comic Relief from a cake sale, a flower sale and a dress down day.

Workers said the highlight was holding a game of Red Nose bingo and a raffle with all the prizes donated by staff.

In King's Lynn, staff at the Sainsbury's store in the town centre donned fancy dress and collected donations from their customers.

The costumes included a nun and sumo wrestler with store manager Simon Cross slipping into a pink tutu for Red Nose Day.

Mr Cross said: 'The Comic Relief merchandise sales have been going really well and compared to other Sainsbury's stores across the region we are the selling the most.

'Customers have been really supportive and in just the collection buckets alone we have raised around �1,000.

'We have already raised �2,500 in other events leading up to this so we look like breaking our target of �3,500.'

Over at nearby milkshake shop Shakeaway, shop manager Purdy Allan is hoping to raise �250 for Comic Relief.

She said: 'We have put pictures of four staff members on the wall and for a �1 donation our customers can stick a spot to any face and the one with the most spots will get a custard pie in their face.

'We have also been donating �1 to Comic Relief for every regular drink bought and we are closing in on our target of �250.'

She added: 'The best thing about comic relief is that it is a bit of fun and it's all for a good cause.'

Meanwhile, hairdressers at Supercuts in the Vancouver Quarter also asked their customers to do something funny for Red Nose Day by having their hair flashed red.

A Norwich youngster is raising money by having her long-flowing hair cut into a short bob.

Erin Wilkinson of Winchcomb Road, will be changing her hairstyle at 4pm today at Image hairdressers at Riverside, Norwich.

The six-year-old, who attends Nelson Infant School, has already raised �100 for Comic Relief and plans to donate her hair to the Locks with Love charity, which helps children suffering with alopecia.

Watton recruitment agency S&M Personnel Ltd changed their name to the Red Nose Day Recruiters for a series of charity events held this week.

Ysobel Meikle and her colleagues raised a total of �515 today and hope to make more money when they hold a raffle and sweepstake at 3pm in their office on the High Street.

This week the recruiters have baked cakes for their clients and today they came to work in their pyjamas.

Staff at the Numark Pharmacy in Drayton raised money for Red Nose Day by dressing up as pirates and collecting cash.

Customers at a Dereham chippie tucked into red sausages to do their bit for Comic Relief.

Big Fry, in the Market Place, used food dye to colour the batter and 30 pence from each sale went to the charity.

More than 100 eye-catching sausage were expected to sell and staff also donned red noses for the day.

Secretary Debby Griffiths said the shop usually raised money for its own charity, the Brian Cross Memorial, but managing director Stephen Cross wanted to try something different for Red Nose Day 2011.

The front of the shop was decorated with Comic Relief posters and a collection bucket was also set on the counter for those not brave enough for a red banger..

Sainsbury's supermarkets across the county have planned a bumper line-up of Red Nose Day activities today including special events at their stores in Pound Lane and Longwater.

Senior manager Chris Mullender at the Pound Lane branch will be sitting in a bath full of beans and inviting people to pay a pound to pour hundreds of cans over the top of him from 3pm.

A class from Eaton Hall primary school will be packing bags for customers and collecting money, whilst workers in fancy dress will welcome Sainsbury's chairman, David Tyler, to witness the fundraising events.

Meanwhile, staff at the Longwater supermarket have already raised a �10,000 today with a host of 'do something funny for money' events.

The main attraction was a dunk tank outside the supermarket where shoppers were encouraged to donate a pound to try and drop store managers in the water by throwing balls at a target.

Staff donned their red noses and dressed in an array of wigs and costumes to greet customers throughout the day.

A raffle is also planned for the afternoon with the chance to win a Red Nose Day Mini for the weekend.

More than 200 people donned silly costumes for a fancy dress fun run in Normanston Park.

The race in aid of Comic Relief was a huge success when it took place on Wednesday morning. It is hoped that the event, organised by travel and tourism students from Lowestoft College, raised more than �1,000 just in time for Red Nose Day.

Participants braved cold temperatures to race around the Park in Oulton Broad and costumes ranged from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Oompla Loompas, to superheroes and sailors.

Three friends from Hethersett High School this afternoon began a nine mile journey from Wymondham to Norwich on pogo sticks. Josh Worley, Tom Calder, and James Skipper began the challenge from the Market Cross in Wymondham at 1.20pm today.

Youngsters at Hethersett High School raised a total of �885 pounds with fund raising events including a staff versus student volleyball match.

Students donated money to come dressed in their casual clothes and play music during break time, whilst staff held a cake sale.

School business manager, Richard Cole, said: 'Credit goes to the students who took it upon themselves to organise activities and make it all happen. It has been a really good day for everyone in the school.'

Elsewhere, more than 200 pupils at Arden Grove Infants and Nursery School in Hellesdon have collected �230 for Comic Relief with their wacky hair day.

Infants donated money to come dressed in red and style their hair in a crazy way, with styles including mohawks, red noses in hair and wigs.

In Norwich, videos of people 'doing something funny for money' have been playing all week on the BBC Big Screen at the Chapelfield shopping centre at Chapelfield Plain.

The short film was made by BBC Voices who invited people in the city to record something funny in a booth at The Forum

A special half-an-hour screening where all the films will be shown is set to take place tomorrow between 12 and 12:30pm. (Click on the video in this story to see Norwich people 'doing something funny for money').

Among hundreds of capers for Comic Relief in north Norfolk was a job-swap day at the Cliftonville Hotel, in Cromer, where kitchen and front-of-house staff in Bolton's Bistro took on each other's roles.

Diners were encouraged to donate �5 per meal, while the hotel gave 10pc of the total bill, and staff donated their tips for the day.

Some of the world's worst records were due to be given an airing at Overstrand's White Horse Inn last night when DJ Scott Butler played forgettable numbers including the Smurf Song, Grandad, the Birdy Song, Agadoo, and Star Trekkin' in aid of Comic Relief.

Listeners were urged to donate to stop the noise - or to have secret favourites played again.

At Millfield Primary School in North Walsham head teacher Jan Harazdiuk was set to sit in a bath of beans while children splatted her with pies for the cause, and visitors to Rossi's Leisure centre in the town could take part in a range of fitness classes, finishing with coffee and cake, with all proceeds donated to Comic Relief.

A group of charity shop volunteers have been turning a heads in Stalham today as they came to work dressed in Ann Summer's clothes.

Staff at the Emily Faith charity shop, on Upper Staithe Road, raised more than �200 for their outfits and they have pledged a day's takings to Comic Relief.

Assistant Manager Sammy Huntingford, 31, said: 'We had six women and one man dressing up and it has gone really well.

'People have been driving past in their cars and looking around at us and others have come into the shop to see us.'

In Fakenham, workers at the Henry IV became super staff as they aimed to raise �400 for Comic Relief.

Assistant manager Bill Vasey and chef Joe Baine-Young completed a tandem bike ride from Bury St Edmunds to the Greenway Lane pub dressed as Batman and Robin.

To show their support, their colleagues also dressed up as super heroes to serve customers.

Manager Steve Besant, who became Superman for the day was joined by Superwoman and Batgirl, said: 'It seemed like a good idea to show them a bit of support.'

Elsewhere in Suffolk, youngsters from Reydon Primary School got in to the Red Nose spirit by dressing up as builders. The school, in Jermyns Road, Reydon, near Southwold, is currently having bulding work done under Suffolk County Council's major school organisation review.

Students at Archbishop Sancroft High School in Harleston raised in excess of �600 for Comic Relief after staging a fancy dress non-uniform day.

Pupils and staff dressed in a host of different guises, including characters from Little Britain, Avatar, St Trinians and film stars.

Year 11 students also organised a talent show and there was a three-legged race to raise funds for this year's Red Nose Day.

A Norwich hairdresser pledged to raise money for Red Nose Day by doing a 24 hour sponsored silence.

Louise Bennison, who works at Blades in Pottergate, decided to stay quiet for a whole day after admitting that she cannot stop talking at work.

The 22-year-old from Harleston also wore a red bridesmaid dress on the day and raised �201.

Steve Panting, barber at Blades, said: 'She was getting very frustrated, but she was winning. Louise is renowned for talking so the rest of the staff enjoyed having a break from it.'

Are you do something funny for money for Red Nose Day? email your stories and pictures to reporter Ben Woods at ben.woods@archant.co.uk or call 01603 772439.