THOUSANDS of fundraising events were underway today as Suffolk went Comic Relief crazy by doing Something Funny for Money.

THOUSANDS of fundraising events were underway today as Suffolk went Comic Relief crazy by doing Something Funny for Money.

Weird and whacky stunts were being performed to raise bucketfuls of cash to help impoverished children in the UK and Africa.

Red Nose Day 2009 got off to a bang in Ipswich and the surrounding area, with people digging deep to try and make it a record-breaking year.

At Partridges in Hadleigh staff had been growing beards since February 13 to have shaved off to raise money for the bi-annual charity funday.

Pupils at Cedarwood Primary School in Wilkinson Drive, Kesgrave, were invited to dress up as their favourite Roald Dahl characters for a donation for Comic Relief.

James Walker and Thomas Harvey, sixth formers from Kesgrave High School, decided to have their torsos waxed in aid of the good cause.

Youngsters at Langer Pre-school in Felixstowe entered into the Red Nose fun with a whacky hair and dress day.

At Otley College, hundreds of students did something funny for money- with activities including three-legged leap frogging, piggy back rides, cake raffles and a half mile comedy fun run - and raised more than �250.

Mark Bailey, of Bailey's Photography, Orwell Road, Felixstowe, is encouraging people to get shot for Comic Relief - a chance for families to take part in a fun photo shoot on location with the Suffolk coast as a backdrop.

Ipswich Buses will be getting into the Comic Relief spirit when driver Andy McClaughlin takes a dunk in a bath of baked beans. The company will be in Tower Ramparts in Ipswich this afternoon doing shaving and leg waxing and all drivers will be wearing red all day.

Managers at Sainsbury's in Hadleigh Road, Ipswich will be getting their leg and back hair shaved off to raise money. Staff will also be dressing up as clowns.

Local bands will be playing in a red nose themed night at the Steamboat Tavern in Ipswich. The �5 admission price includes a helping of red food.

Children at the Old School House Nursery in Helmingham have been wearing red all week and made a 10ft tall giant red nose which they footprinted and decorated. They have also learnt about where the money will be going.

The CharChar Trust, an Ipswich founded charity for supplying education equipment to Africa, is set to benefit along with Comic Relief from a teacher shaving his 30-year beard off.

Pupils at Culford School, near Bury St Edmunds, will witness the moment when James Recknell, Director of Music at the independent school, loses his infamous beard while accompanied by a barber shop quartet.

Meanwhile staff from Ipswich Buses were preparing to spend a day in a bath filled with baked beans - the old favourites still raise a smile!