YOUNGSTERS across Stourbridge did their bit and helped raise thousands of pounds for the BBC's Comic Relief appeal.

Students at Ridgewood High School in Wollaston staged a week of fundraising activities, which included sponsored silences, cake sales and a year 11 students v teachers netball match.

But the highlight was the wear something red and big hair day' on Friday March 16, which for a £1 donation saw pupils donning pirate, cowgirl and fairy costumes and staff taking to the classrooms as Batgirl, Robin and Cruella DeVille; headteacher Clive Nutting even turned up as Ali G.

Starry-eyed staff also took to the stage for a karaoke competition to help rake in further funds.

Headteacher Mr Nutting said: "Staff and students joined together in so many different ways to raise not only money but also an awareness of the plight of others who live in poverty. Their efforts and the brilliant atmosphere created around school have been outstanding."

He said money was still coming in this week, but the school hopes to beat the 2005 total of £2,850.

Ridgewood is one of the top fundraising schools in the UK for Comic Relief and as a thank you the charity donated 100 tickets for schoolkids to see McFly in concert.

Meanwhile brave staff at Redhill School, Stourbridge, willingly put themselves into stocks as pupils queued and paid to soak the teachers with wet sponges.

The stunt, together with cakes sales, sponsored silences, karaoke, a netball shootout and a mufti day which saw the staff turn up for work dressed as pupils, raised £1,600 for Comic Relief.

Youngsters at St James's Primary in Wollaston raised £351 for the charity appeal by playing bingo games, making and selling flapjacks and welly wanging.

A charity gig at Stourbridge's Rock Cafe 2000 on Thursday March 15, organised by Kidderminster College student Danny Tristram and featuring Tone Deaf, ADH, The Unknown, Disillusioned and Alanah Jones, raised £234 for Comic Relief.

Danny, of Amblecote, said: "It was really good. I would have hoped for more people but we really enjoyed it."

Another gig on Sunday March 18 featuring Stourbridge bands Farewell in December, When Autumn Falls, Inferno Casino and The Band With No Name raised a further £75 for the appeal, which will help impoverished kids in the UK and overseas.