SOUTH Essex Schools and some tasty cakes have helped Comic Relief raise more than £71million so far.

Tens of thousands of children across Basildon, Southend and Castle Point took part in the charity’s 16th Red Nose Day on Friday.

Teachers braved the shave, the ice bucket challenge, leg waxing and sponge throwing to help raise aid for the anti-poverty charity.

Liz Lockwood and Carole Gibelli from Leigh took to the streets after staying up all night baking cakes in an attempt to raise £1,000 for the charity.

Speaking before setting up shop in Clements Arcade, Broadway, Ms Gibelli, said: “We’ve done the cake sale a few times now.

“Comic Relief is such a great cause.

“We’re going to bake 500 cakes and we’re hoping to raise £1,000 for the charity.

“I will be up all night baking.”

In a tweet on Saturday the charity said: “Thank you! You’re all amazing. You’ve helped us raise a fabulous £71,308,475 so far for Red Nose Day.”

The money will go towards helping alleviate poverty in the UK and worldwide.

Comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry founded the charity in 1985 in response to famine in Ethiopia.

So far it has raised an estimated £800million.