BAKED bean baths, head shaving and leg-waxing - it can only mean one thing - Red Nose Day is back.

Friday, March 11 is the tenth RND bash - the perfect excuse to take the flippers to school, and wear a purple wig to work meetings.

Every other year, in the middle of March, a TV marathon beams celebrity capers and public pandemonium into millions of homes to bump up the millions for worthy causes.

And this year, people in Worcester will act up to raise a laugh and some valuable pounds to be put to good use by charities in the UK and around the world.

Worcester News readers have a splendid history of making the day one to remember.

A small selection of just some of the 2003 antics are outlined below.

Plans are already falling into place for the event - already less than a month away.

Staff at two residential care homes for the elderly, Cranham, on Cranham Hall Drive, Warndon, and Regent, on School Road, St John's, will be fund-raising for RND and promoting awareness for Action on Elder Abuse.

RND is supporting this charity, which combats the abuse of older people, and promotes a more respectful and dignified treatment of pensioners.

Red Nose Day started out Comic Relief in 1985, when comedians wanted to raise serious money for serious causes in a fun and wacky way.

Then in 1988, RND hit TV screens for the first time and has never looked back.

If you are planning to raise money, the Worcester News wants to know.