Fun loving fundraisers across Wharfedale and Aireborough are preparing to paint their town red for Comic Relief tomorrow.

Everyone from toddlers to businessmen are taking part in the charity based hilarity, which this year has adopted The Big Hair Do as its theme. Taking that as her cue, Ilkley hairdressing stylist Jane Good from Manor Hair Fashions has volunteered to be given a David Beckham Mohican style haircut, complete with red and black Manchester United coloured dye, on the day.

She said: "I'll be wearing a full Man Utd strip as I'm working all day, too - even though I'm a Tottenham Hotspur supporter!

"We thought David Beckham was the footballer best known for having wacky haircuts and I'd get more sponsorship that way, and we've raised more than £200 already.

"My hair is quite short at the moment but blond, so it's going to be quite a transformation. But the customers have all been pre-warned!"

Members of Otley fitness centre Club Energy, in Boroughgate, will be taking the opportunity to get their own back on their instructors.

In return for paying a small fee, they will be able to make their well-meaning tormentors perform all kinds of uncomfortable tasks - including running for a mile dressed as a clown and lifting weights in a dress.

Children at Hawksworth School will be getting into the spirit of things by spending the whole day dressed in red and sporting outlandish hairstyles.

Felicity Coates will be doing a sponsored laugh and three long haired pupils will be challenging fellow pupils to guess the length of their hair.

Alex Adams, meanwhile, will be doing his best to keep silent for seven hours and there will be several eating competitions, involving Maltesers, doughnuts and jelly beans.

One class is staging a second hand toy sale during break and red nose buns will be on sale, too.

The staff are also getting in on the action, with the school's very own 'Ann' (Annabel) Robinson hosting a Weakest Link style competition for the teachers.

Pupils and staff at Clevedon House Preparatory School, in Ilkley, meanwhile, are planning to make good use of the hair gel provided with this year's red noses and enjoy a mass 'bad hair day'.

All Saints' Primary School, in Ilkley, have put a special effort into this year's event because they missed out on last year's Children in Need day, due to moving to their new site in Easby Drive.

Pupils will come dressed in anything they choose, with manic hairstyles to match, while young musicians will be busking on The Grove.

Children will also be taking part in a 'copper tower' challenge, when they try and stack donated pennies and two-pence pieces as high as they can in the library.

Last year the pupils managed to make a 30 metre trail of five pence pieces around the school playground, a record they are determined to smash this time.

A bun sale has also been arranged and Years 5 and 6 teacher Andrew Suitor could be shorn of his locks during school assembly if the necessary £250 of donations is raised.

All Saints' assistant administrator Lucy Smith said: "It sounds like we are going to have a completely chaotic, fun day - as usual on Red Nose Day!"

The local business community is also letting its hair down for the event, with the Ilkley branch of the Yorkshire Sofa Company giving a ten per cent discount to its customers over the next week.

The money shaved off the sale of any sofa, chair or sofa-bed will then be matched by another ten per cent donation from the firm, and given to Comic Relief.

Ending on Sunday, March 23, the promotion will be supported by staff wearing Red Nose Day T-shirts and is expected to raise more than £5,000 for the appeal.

Director Emma Bell said: "We have two young children of our own, so we know how important it is to provide the best possible start in life for young people.

"That's why we are taking such a big step towards providing the Comic Relief fund with as much money as our customers will allow!