COUNCIL workers in Sunderland are getting in the groove for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day.

Fourteen staff in the council's personnel department have recorded a CD, Put 'em On, to raise money for the charity appeal.

The track was recorded at the Rooftop Recording Studio in South Shields and fits in with Comic Relief's Say Pants To Poverty theme.

"We are absolutely rubbish at singing but we hope the studio can make us sound wonderful," said Dawn Rugman, one of the singers.

"I don't think we'll give Westlife any competition.

"I had the crazy idea of going into a studio.

"A colleague and I wrote the basic melody and lyrics, and we went in and they produced a backing track. It is about pants because this year's Comic Relief Day is about saying pants to poverty.''

The CD will go on sale next Monday to colleagues in the council for £1.99 - and at least £1.70 will go to Comic Relief.

"The council has 14,000 employees so we have a lot of potential sales,'' Ms Rugman said.

* If you are organising an event for Red Nose Day, call The Northern Echo newsdesk on (01325) 381313.