SCORES of people wearing clown’s noses and red clothes did something funny today to raise money for Comic Relief.

In Walthamstow Town Square, school children joined the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra playing whoopie cushion to take part in the world’s first whoopee cushion orchestra.

Musicians from the Manchester-based orchestra played classical songs accompanied by the unmistakable sounds of lots of whoopie cushions.

The event, from 12noon to 2pm, linked up with similar performances being held in Plymouth, Middlesborough, Liverpool and Manchester and is due to be screened on BBC as part of the Comic Relief charity day round-up.

Elsewhere in Walthamstow, a sea of red was seen this morning as a 20-strong group of fundraisers ran, jogged and walked the one-mile distance from Waltham Forest College in Forest Road to the College’s Café Horizon in Lloyd Park.

Other cash-generating activities at the college included, ‘Beat the Goalie’, ‘Rowing Challenge’ and ‘Have a Bash at Drumming’ and the sale of cakes baked by catering students and students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Cachelle Marshall, a Level 3 Beauty Therapy student spent the day providing manicure treatments. She said: “I volunteered to take part because I wanted to raise money to help those who are less fortunate.”

Jonathan Constable, the college’s enrichment manager, who led the team responsible for co-ordinating the event, said “It’s great to see so many students and members of staff taking part in these fundraising activities.”

The College expects the amount raised by the end of the day to exceed £400.

Pupils at Chingford Church of England Junior School in Cambridge Road went to school dressed as characters from story books, raising £140 for Red Nose Day.

They took part in several activities as part of national Book Week, including quizzes, book-making, and Shakespeare workshops.

Toddlers and their parents have been spending the afternoon making biscuits and taking part in hand-painting to raise money at Highams Park Nursery, in Handsworth Avenue.

Pupils and staff at Normanhurst School in Chingford exchanged their smart blue uniforms for bright red and wore 'something funny for money' today.

Fun events were the order of the day with last lesson devoted to comic performances from staff and pupils and the 'kidnapping' of deputy head, Chris Christou, who was held to ransom by Prefects.

Headteacher Helen Kacouris said: "It was business as usual in lessons but we wanted our pupils to have a fun afternoon."

More than £350 was raised for Comic Relief.

Staff at Sainsbury's, in Walthamstow High Street, have spent the day in fancy-dress costume collecting donations from shoppers.

Children and staff at Bright kids Nursery in Leyton raised more than £250 by dressing up in pyjamas and selling cakes.

At Chase Lane Primary School in Chingford, pupils made big red noses to decorate the school and staff dressed in red and performed a line dance during a special assembly.

Children wore an item of red and in the evening a family disco was held where more money was collected -raising £350 overall.