KEIGHLEY district has gone Comic Relief crazy.

Schools, workplaces and individuals have today staged a huge range of activities and between them raised thousands of pounds.

A determined young athlete from Utley ran his longest ever distance in aid of this year's charity extravaganza.

Eric Beaumont, 14, a pupil at University Academy Keighley (UAK), ran a half marathon – 13.1 miles – finishing in front of hundreds of fellow students.

His previous furthest distance was 10 miles.

He completed the route in one hour 58 minutes, accompanied by UAK teachers Chris Dring and Matthew Dudley, who ran with him, and Matthew White, who was cycling in support.

Eric did not slow down as he reached the finishing line in the sunshine at his school's running track, cheered on by the large crowd that included his mum Ruth.

Commenting shortly after he had finished, Eric, who is a member of Keighley & Craven Athletic Club's juniors wing, said his achievement felt "amazing".

"I knew this would be for a good cause and I wanted to show that I cared about Sport Relief," he added.

His run began at UAK then took him and the accompanying teachers through Utley, across Keighley golf course, then along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to Bingley and back.

Eric has raised more than £200 so far and people can still donate online at my.rednoseday.com/sponsor/uakhalf.

He has been running competitively since he was nine, and mainly concentrates on fell running.

Mum Ruth said: "I knew he'd manage it. He loves his running and his cycling."

A Haworth photographer found an eye-catching way to raise money.

Stephen Hogg, 41, had initially set out to collect money by walking around wearing his clothes inside-out.

But after this did not generate much of a response, his 19-year-old daughter Stacie came up with the idea of him dressing up as a woman instead.

Mr Hogg said: “I got the woman’s top from Asda and the boots and skirt from E-bay.

“I went up Haworth Main Street dressed like this and some of the businesses and passing members of the public donated.

“The boots had three-inch heels so it wasn’t easy walking up Main Street in them – I can appreciate how women feel now!

“I’ve raised £158 which I’m definitely pleased about, considering this was a one-man-band short notice thing. It was a good bit of fun and everyone’s comments on Facebook have been brilliant.”

A Keighley town councillor lost his beard to raise cash.

Councillor Martin Walker, who lives in and represents Bogthorn and Exley ward, had his beard shaved at Matt's Headroom in Oakworth.

The sponsored shave was carried out by the business owner, Matthew House.

Cllr Walker said his changed appearance may have come as something of a surprise to his wife of 41 years Sally, as he had not told her about his planned fundraising scheme in advance.

However, he said this was not the first time he had shaved his beard for Comic Relief, having previously done it in 2001, 2003 and 2007.

He said that Mr House had done a “fine job”, adding that the latest beard shave should raise about £200.

At Keighley St Andrew's CE Primary School, pupils each donated 50p to attend classes in red clothing.

Cakes and red noses were sold and nursery children made special biscuits.

"We hope to have made quite a lot of money," said a school spokesman.

Parkside School in Cullingworth is on track to keep its Comic Relief ‘Super School’ status after holding activities for the whole week.

Spokesman Majella McColgan said the young people wanted to make an effort to support fellow student Ellie Dimbleby, who recently filmed a Comic Relief report in Africa.

She said: “Ellie was on Blue Peter, and was in London to visit the Comic Relief show, but couldn’t be in the audience as it was strictly over 18s.”

The Parkside student leaders started by selling more than 500 red noses in school, then on the Wednesday there was a Teachers Lip Sync Battle.

Mrs McColgan said: “We had entrants from the departments and even Andy Taylor our head teacher and his leadership team danced their way around school looking to be shown the way to Amarillo!

“From this event alone we raised £620 – it was an amazing lunchtime."

There was a bake off competition over two evenings, with all cakes being sold in school, and a non-uniform day.

Mrs McColgan added: “Ellie and her mum raised over £250 for us with a raffle for a hamper. Altogether Parkside Red Nose Day Super School raised more than £2,600.”