People doing something silly for money across the district helped Comic Relief to raise a record-breaking £74 million for work with underprivileged children at home and in Africa.

the BBC television extravaganza raised £74,360,207, the highest total reached on the night in Red Nose Day's 23 year history.

In Ashburton students at South Dartmoor Community College raised more than £1,500 by organising events such as throwing sponges at staff and staging their own version of the TV show Take me Out.

One youngster, Ryan Havinga, raised £229 by having his monster Afro hairdo tamed by hairdresser Michelle Bristow.

'They did a fantastic job,' said performance team administrator Jackie Crook.

In Newton Abbot, staff at the Pizza Cafe, Queen Street, took to the streets where, despite rain, they spent all day working out in fancy dress.

Manager Stephen Campbell said: 'It was hard and there weren't many people about because of the weather but we're still on target to raise more than £700 so we're really pleased.'

Elsewhere in Newton Abbot staff and customers at Sainsbury's handed over more than £2,000.

For the last month activities have included a cake sale, a 'cycle' to head office in the shop foyer, keep fit and a bath of baked beans for managers. Still to come is a car boot on Sunday from 4.30pm in the store's car park, charges are £5 for cars and £8 for vans.

Manager Warren Knight said: 'This is my last week at the Newton Abbot branch before I leave to run the new Ottery St Mary branch and it is a fantastic way to leave.  All the colleagues have entered into the spirit of things and this year's total is better than last year's for Sport Relief, so well done to everyone and thank you.'

Staff at another of the town's businesses, Frames and Boxes, dressed up as artists or their subjects. A raffle gave customers the chance to win a signed £165 still of John Cleese as Basil Fawlty in the famous German sketch and a donation box was made available for anyone wanting to have their photo taken in a faceless print of the Mona Lisa.

'Everyone had plenty of fun with that,' said co-owner Steve Roberston, aka Vincent van Gogh.

'We raised something like £150, I think.'

At Highweek Primary, the school council worked with teacher Merron Archer to organise an 'I can't believe you wore that to school' day.

In fancy dress they undertook hurdle and obstacle races, played football and paid 50p to eat red nose pizzas.

Their efforts yielded £615. 'We are absolutely delighted, the children had a fun day and they all rose to the challenge,' said Mrs Archer.

In Teignmouth an individual day-long sponsored silence by nine-year-old James Edis brought in another £70.

Proud grandfather Geoff said of the Hazeldown Primary School pupil: 'James did this without any prompting and went to school with a pad and pen so he could write down what he needed to say. He kept it up from 7am to 7pm, he did brilliantly.'

Staff and toddlers at Rackerhayes Pre-school, Kingsteignton, weren't allowed to raise money for Comic Relief being part of a charity themselves.

That didn't stop them getting in the spirit however and the order of the day was red clothing, red crafts and red nose biscuits.

'Everything was purely for fun but it was all geared up for Comic Relief and got the children involved,' said manager Karen Field.

Nearby at Teign School more than £1,500 was raised by staff and students, £200 coming in after headteacher Vyv Game had his beard shaved off. In the kitchen dinner lady Rhonda Germon sold red nose biscuits making £60 in the process.

A dream came true a second time for pupils at Denbury Primary School where headteacher Jamie Stone gave the green light for some red nose fun.

'At the last Comic Relief two years ago the children threw jelly at the teachers and they loved it so much they've not stopped talking about it,' he said.

'Since then we've had a couple of new staff so we thought why not do it again.'

Why not indeed, as the jelly-throwing coupled with sales of red noses netted more than £300.

Youngsters from Ilsington Primary School took over the village hall car park for an hour and washed enough cars to add £172 to the Comic Relief pot.

'They did an amazing job organising the day and our thanks go to everyone who let their cars become our victims on the day,' quipped head of teaching and learning, Laura Sutton.