THERE were no red noses or wigs left in the shops last night as Comic Relief fever swept the region.

Toy shops and fancy dress outlets were sold out of everything red - wigs, spray paint and noses - as fundraisers hurried to add the finishing touches to their charity costumes.

Mandy Smith, of Party Pants, in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, said: "It has been mad here today. People have been coming in searching for anything they can get their hands on."

Suppliers were also running out. A spokeswoman for Grovers, in Northallerton, which is a Toymaster outlet, said: "We left it a bit late and tried to order some more spray paint, but the suppliers themselves didn't have any left. In the meantime, we have sold out of anything red."

In Lamb's toy shop, in Cockerton, Darlington, staff ordered a box of paints in assorted colours - but there was no red.

Mark Errington, who works in the shop, said: "Because there aren't any red noses left anywhere, people have also been buying red paint to put it straight on their noses."

Eden Costumes, at Thorpe Larches, near Sedgefield, had also sold out of everything red.

People in Hartlepool had to travel if they wanted to join in the fun because Oxfam and Sainburys, which have the rights to distribute the £1 noses, have no stores in the town.

In a bid to help frustrated parents, Hartlepool headteacher Allan Lacey paid for 300 of the noses to be sold at the central library.