SCHOOLS, businesses and community groups across South Lakeland and Furness are taking part in a range of activities, including a 24-hour trampoline bounce and a Miss World competition, in a bid to raise money for this year's Comic Relief Appeal, reports Lisa Higginson.

Cartmel Priory School pupils transformed the canteen into a restaurant yesterday (Thursday) and hosted a Red Nose Bistro night where a team of chefs, waiters and waitresses from all school years served a three-course menu to staff, governors and parents.

Kendal College Young Chef of the Year, Michael Southcott, 14, designed the evening's menu and musicians from the school entertained diners, who paid £20 for the meal.

Members of Cartmel Priory School's trampoline club launched a 24-hour trampoline at 3pm yesterday and staff and pupils, including children from Cartmel Primary School, will be bouncing until 3pm today (Friday).

Pupils at Ulverston Victoria High School are to host their annual fashion show tonight (Friday), which has been inspired by designs from the 1950s and the musical Grease.

As part of the school's Family Learning Days, the pupils and their family members have used original 1950s sewing patterns to create authentic garments to model at the show, which starts at 7pm.

And A-level and GCSE pupils will be modelling their latest designs and a range of tops, trousers and hats produced by children in years seven, eight and nine will also be on show.

A green-fingered seven-year-old schoolgirl from Ulverston has also been busy raising money for the appeal by nurturing pots of sunflower seedlings and selling them for £1 each.

Nicole Athersmith, a pupil at Croftlands Junior School, has already raised £25 from the sales of her seedlings and she hopes to double the amount by the time she has sold them all.

Staff and students at Kendal College will be wearing fancy dress and holding a number of fund-raising activities throughout today, including cake stalls and health and beauty treatments at the college's Elements Beauty Salon.

And Kendal's Busy Bees Nursery is having a red day' with the children and staff dressing in red clothes, tasting red foods and making red nose biscuits.

Hallgarth Community Toddler Group in Kendal is holding a Comic Relief Toddle around the centre's playground with their musical instruments and the Hallgarth Residents' Association has sponsored the group in a bid to help raise funds for the appeal.

Grasmere villagers will be treated to a Miss World competition with a difference tonight when Tweedies Bar holds its Miss Grass-Vegas Comic Relief event.

Local men will don women's clothes for one night only to take part in the competition, which starts at 10pm, and raise money through donations and raffles.

The Black Swan Hotel at Ravenstonedale is holding a Red Nose weekend starting tonight (Friday) with a quiz, live music and free buffet. There will also be a fund-raising raffle. Then tomorrow (Saturday) there will be a table top and craft/gift sale in aid of Comic Reflief from noon.