STAFF at a Woodford Green boozer raided the fancy dress box and donned their glad rags for the launch of a month of fund raising.

The Castle Harvester in Woodford High Road is trying to raise hundreds of pounds for a children’s charity Make-A-Wish Foundation in their fourth fund raising month to date.

The team, who were pulling pints on Sunday dressed as school boys, nurses and cheer leaders, are busy flogging branded trolley tokens and Chuppa Chup lollipops in a bid to raise cash to make sick youngsters' dreams come true.

Manager Dennis Kerswill, 53, who came to work dressed as a woman, said: “I was in a slinky black number and make-up but I refused to wear high-heels.

“I was getting lots of looks but not too many compliments as a woman.

“I wasn't very comfortable and I took the bra off because it hurt, so I suppose that's why women are moody most of the time because they have to wear all that stuff.

“We had a bucket with lollies in the middle of the room and we were taking them around to customers.

“I think we made a couple of hundred pounds which is pretty good for the first day.

“We just want to raise as much as we can.”

Everyone who purchases a ticket or a lolly will be entered into a draw to win a free family meal at the pub.

Mr Kerswill said: “It usually costs around £4000 to make a wish come true for a child with a life- threatening illness, so we’re hoping we will be able to make a real difference.

“We will also be doing other fund raising activities during August, so watch this space.”

 In the last two years Harvester has raised more than £50,000 for Make-A-Wish, which has granted over 5,500 wishes for children since it was founded in 1986.

 Staff at the Castle will be suggesting a donation of £1 for the Chuppa Chup lollipops, and £2 for the special edition trolley tokens.