Comic Relief crews rallying to support this year’s big appeal have been swinging into action ahead of the big BBC telethon tonight – and there’s lots more Red Nose Day fundraising fun to come across Stevenage and North Herts.

The Comet: Samantha Hough, Tony Hartley, Emma-Victoria Palfreman-Brown and Julie Steadman from the Imajica Theatre Company.Samantha Hough, Tony Hartley, Emma-Victoria Palfreman-Brown and Julie Steadman from the Imajica Theatre Company. (Image: Archant)

It was a superhuman effort at the SEC Group in Stevenage on Tuesday to splash the cash for the cause.

East Anglia staff from Toyota Materials Handling visited the base in Whittle Way for a charity car wash with both companies mucking in – including superman and the Super Mario Brothers.

Motorists were charged £10 for the privilege and had their car decked out in a special red nose as a finishing touch.

SEC Group managing director Steve Watts sponsored the team £50 to wash his truck in fancy dress – adding a further £100 after the sparkling result so the overall total reached £420.

The Comet: There's a joke in here somewhere: Toyota and SEC Group staff all dressed up for the cause.There's a joke in here somewhere: Toyota and SEC Group staff all dressed up for the cause. (Image: Archant)

“I’d like to pass on my thanks to the SEC Group and all those that turned up to have their car washed,” said Toyota Materials Handling’s regional sales manager Ronnie Finney.

“The figure raised has surpassed expectations and has helped the East Anglia team raise over £1,000 for Red Nose Day, which is just fantastic.”

Staff at Specsavers in Stevenage are also doing their bit by making their faces funny for money and encouraging customers to buy their own Red Nose Day glasses to raise money for the charity.

The store in Queensway will be offering raffle tickets for £1 with all glasses purchased. The winner will get the total cost of their purchase back and all proceeds will go to Comic Relief, with the winner announced in store today.

A Stevenage recruitment agency are also pitching in today by hosting a cake sale.

Staff at Lawrence Dean Recruitment’s base at the Business and Technology Centre will be offering up delicious treats while dressing up in crazy costumes to raise funds.

Over in Hitchin and Letchworth members of community-based Imajica Theatre Company are aiming to overhaul the £500 they raised for Comic Relief two years ago,

They’re visiting businesses, schools, shops and community venues in the two towns to paint as many faces as they can and encouraging people to upload pictures of their work to Comic Relief by texting FUNNY to 70011 to donate £1. Comic Relief will then text you a link you can use to send them your photo and you could appear in the Red Nose Day campaign.

Imajica began uploading images at 10am today and will continue to do so every hour through to midnight. Visit their Facebook page and share your funny face – there will be a prize for the best one!

•If you’re doing something funny for money then tweet your news and pictures to @thecomet24 or send them to news@thecomet.net.