RED Nose Day will be bigger and better this year with fund-raisers confident they can top the £65 million raised during the 2005 event.

The biggest TV fund-raising event in the UK calendar makes a real difference to the lives of thousands of people facing terrible injustice or living in abject poverty.

Using comedy and laughter to get a serious message across, Red Nose Day also ensures that everyone who gets involved can have fun at the same time.

And we at the Daily Echo want to know what you are doing for the big day.

One of the largest call centres on Red Nose Day - Friday, March 16 - will be at Barclays in Poole, where 200 staff are planning to give up their free time to take pledges on 100 phone lines.

Call centre manager Claire Wilkinson said: "This year is the third year we have supported Red Nose Day and we have been flooded with offers from volunteers who will answer the phone lines from 6pm until midnight.

"Last time we handled 4,500 calls and took £150,000 in pledges. This year we are aiming to beat that. We will also be staging a raffle with various prizes donated by local companies.

"Even goody bags have been provided for the night to ensure that volunteers, who will have worked from that morning, are fed."

Chris Moyles and Radio One are heading to Bournemouth on Friday to kick off their Breakfast team tour of the UK for Comic Relief.

He will appear at the Old Fire Station in a "celeb-packed" gig, says Radio One, which will also feature boy band McFly and TV presenter Vernon Kay. Sam Cox, who manages the Old Fire Station, said: "Hopefully he'll cause some havoc."

Local companies wishing to show their support for the worthy cause can purchase giant red noses to adorn their buildings at a cost of £250 plus delivery.

Companies and schools will be staging various fundraising events. Pupils at New Milton's Arnewood School are putting on three public shows, starting this Friday, when young dance enthusiasts will host the school's Dance Showcase at Forest Arts Centre.

There will be a talent show in the school hall on Red Nose Day and on March 22 and 23 drama teacher Leonora Penny will direct a cast of 30 Year Seven and Eight students in A Year and A Day by Christina Reid.

Meanwhile doctors and staff at the James Fisher Medical Centre in Muscliffe will be involved in comedy circuit training from 12.30pm until 1.30pm on Red Nose Day.

l Tell us about your event for Red Nose Day by contacting the newsdesk on newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk.