SOME strange things happened at Shopper Towers last Friday.

To start with the ladies of the classified office, who can usually be depended on to dress themselves properly (on a good day at least), all turned up to work with large pairs of pants worn over their skirts.

And the gentlemen had similarly decided to wear thongs over their well-pressed trousers.

Then two page planners were seen covered in chocolate!

However, following a bit of investigative work by this intrepid reporter, it all became clear Comic Relief fever had gripped the building.

Classified manager Freda Scanlan and her staff had decided to dress up after donating money to the charity, which aims to raise cash while putting a smile on people's faces, and managed to collect a total of £101.

She said: “We are a friendly lot here, and will take any opportunity to do something a little silly. We didn't raise a great deal but every little bit counts.”

Angela Landy and Beverley Simmons, both page planners, cooked-up some chocolate cornflake cakes from a recipe found in the Comic Relief cook book. They sold them around the building managing to raise more than £150.

And then Newsquest Media's regional managing director Roger Mills pledged to match what had been raised out of his own pocket, making a grand News Shopper total for Red Nose Day of £502.

He said: “It is in a very good cause, and the charity does excellent work.”