Fancy making a fool of yourself for charity? IT'S A KNOCKOUT: Appeal for Coventry teams to take on the city of Brum.

Byline: By Helen Thomas

THE battle will be on between Coventry and Birmingham next month when people from both cities compete in an It's A Knockout competition.

The challenge is taking place in Longford Park, Coventry, and will raise money for Children Today, a national charity that provides specialist equipment for children with disabilities.

Television presenter and entertainer Timmy Mallett will be hosting the event on Saturday, May 10, which will include all of the usual It's A Knockout games, including giant waterslides and oversized costumes.

The charity is looking for nine teams of 10 to take part and each person must commit to raising pounds 125.

Emma Fawcett, regional fundraiser for Children Today, said: "We think this is a fantastic opportunity for two cities that have such an intense but friendly rivalry to settle their differences and find out about the vital work we carry out for children with disabilities.

"The original It's A Knockouts in the 70s always pitted towns and cities against each other and it really added that element of competition.

"It's that atmosphere we want to recapture with our events and bring that friendly, yet heartfelt, rivalry to what would otherwise just be a simple fun day out.

"We would really like companies to enter teams for this because not only is this a great way to foster team spirit, I'm sure we'd add a little extra zing if we got a company entering different teams from its Coventry and Birmingham offices or depots."

For more information about taking part, contact Zuzana Tothova on 01244 335 622 or [e-mail]

WEIRD COSTUMES, BIZARRE GAMES ... AND STUART HALL!

It's a Knockout ran on TV from 1966 to 1982 and was revived from 1999 to 2001.

The commentators included Eddie Waring (left) and Stuart Hall (right).

The show featured teams, each representing a town or city, competing to complete bizarre tasks in wacky games, often in daft costumes.

Teams could double their points in one round by "playing their Joker".

The games were refereed by former international football referee Arthur Ellis.

CAPTION(S):

WACKY RACES... A competitor in bizarre costume gamely attempts a typically extraordinary challenge on the TV show, and (inset) presenter of the Birmingham v Coventry event, television personality Timmy Mallett