THE latest Comic Relief fundraiser is under way in Swindon, after pupils at Highworth’s Southfield Junior School had their faces painted funny for money.

The Shrivenham Road school has long been a supporter of many charities, but pins the colours of Comic and Sport Relief to its mast.

After raising more than £4,000 for Comic Relief in 2013 and £2,500 last year for Sport Relief, the school was selected by the charity to be one of its launch locations for this year.

On Thursday pupils and teachers pulled out their palettes and brushes to bring about the transformation.

More than £100 was raised on the day to get the fund started, but headteacher Nicola Anderton has more plans for the coming weeks to try and beat the record.

The aim is £5,000 across a fortnight of fundraising in the run up to the big day on March 13, for a charity which appeals with its global reach.

Nicola said Children in Need was limited to the UK in its reach, but Comic and Sport Relief helped projects around the world.

Southfield has established connections with a school in Gambia, which it assists with financial donations.

Among the masterpieces on the faces of pupils were minions, oompa loompas, flowers and monsters.

Nicola said: “It did get quite strange around the school in uniform and usual lessons, with the funny faces people had painted.

“Our funny faces show that we will do everything we can to raise money to make the world a better place.

“Everyone at Southfield Junior School is passionate about raising money for Comic Relief. We have set ourselves an ambitious target of £5,000 this year, which we will endeavour to reach.”

More than 1,000 schools across the West took part in the last Red Nose Day, and Comic Relief is expecting even more to get on board this year.

From sporting face paints and silly wigs to giving kids a lesson in face yoga or transforming into mini versions of famous comedians, there are many ways for schools to get involved.

Comic Relief uses the cash raised through Red Nose Day to help vulnerable and disadvantaged people across the UK and Africa.

For Red Nose Day 2015 UK schools have a mission to raise enough money to help get 300,000 children across Africa into education. and learning.

Teachers can start by signing up for a free school fundraising resource pack, with fundraising ideas, posters, balloons and stickers, as well as learning resources to help pupils understand where the money goes – head to rednoseday.com/schoolspack