GENEROUS punters are getting red-y to say Pants to Poverty for this year's Comic Relief appeal.

Calls have flooded in from companies, playgroups and beer drinkers alike who hope to raise a stash of cash for Red Nose Day this Friday, March 16.

Promotions manager at Worcester's Torch nightclub in Tybridge Street, James Cooper, said they were shouting Pants to Poverty with a crazy line-up of entertainment on Thursday night.

"There will be water pistol fights, contests involving 6ft long baguettes from Subway, and tickets up for grabs from the Odeon cinema," he said.

"We'll be raising money through a variety of fun events all night long."

Comic Relief punch to kick-start the system will cost £1, with 50p going to the appeal.

And the normal entrance fee of £1.50 is reduced to £1 for those daring enough to show their pants.

The manager of Warndon's Leapfrog Day nursery, Louise Canning, said Comic Relief had really given the "smalls" a chance to let their hair down.

"The kids will be fun-raising by donating £1 to arrive in their slippers followed by party games and a Comic Relief-themed obstacle course," she said.

"This will be the first Red Nose Day that many of them will remember and saying knickers to normality is a great way to raise money."

Meanwhile, the Evening News has pledged to give a penny for every copy of the paper sold on Friday to Comic Relief.

And game-for-a-laugh staff at the Hylton Road office plan on bumping up the pounds by donning silly attire for the day.

"We aim to get everyone dressing up, dressing down, wearing a red nose and donating £1 this Friday," said newspaper sales manager Caroline Garland.

Comic Relief has raised more than £174m for poor and disadvantaged people in Africa and the UK since its launch from a Sudanese refugee camp in 1985.

To publicise an event in Worcestershire call Melanie Hall on 01905 748200 ext 283.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

Sixty-five-year-old Al Boden of the Organic Hillbillies band, is shinning up at tree opposite The Sun and Slipper pub at Mamble, near Clows Top, on Friday with his guitar in long-johns and cowboy boots.

Staff at Threshers in The Tything, Worcester, are wearing pants over their trousers and treating the first 15 customers on Friday to exotic cocktails. Also, 10 per cent off selected wines.

The boys will be taking on the girls at Perdiswell Leisure Centre in a staff fancy dress netball match tomorrow at 7.30pm.

A local American footie team will be at Powerhouse Retail in Blackpole, Worcester, on Friday while staff cross dress and give away a free Dyson vacuum cleaner. A bouncy castle will be up to amuse the kids.

Children at The Blue Roof Pre-school in Perdiswell Park, Worcester, are paying to dress up as nurses, firemen, doctors etc for the week.

The Body Shop in CrownGate will be undertaking £3.50 manicures all week for Comic Relief. Cakes will be on sale in the shop on Friday.

Torch nightclub, Subway and The Odeon cinema are joining forces for a night of entertainment tomorrow. Entrance £1 if you are showing your pants.

Punters from The Plough on Deansway, Worcester, are pulling a fire engine from the station to the pub at 2pm on Saturday.

Around 200 staff will be wearing their pants on the outside of their trousers at Bennetts Insurance, Worcester, on Friday.

Six 10-year-olds from St Nicholas' CE Middle School at Pinvin, near Pershore, are doing a sponsored swim at Droitwich Baths tonight.

Tots at Leapfrog Day Nurseries in Warndon, Worcester, are paying £1 to arrive in their slippers on Friday to take part in party games and conquer an obstacle course.

DJs will be raising cash all night in Bar Med at The Fownes Hotel on City Walls Road, Worcester, in a 28-hour DJ-athon. There will be a bouncy castle, sumo wrestling and other activities going on in the grounds of the hotel on Saturday from 9-5pm.

Jon Quality Hairdressing in High Street, Worcester, is inviting people to bring donations to a 'blow dry' evening next Monday night between 5-9pm when stylists will give tips on how to tame their tresses.

Irish band 'Barking Mad' will be playing at The Coventry Arms in Upton Snodsbury on Friday night. The £5 entrance fee - to include supper - will go towards Comic Relief. Booking is essential on 01905 831318.

Contact the individual organisers for more details.