SLAVE DAYS, fancy dress and a charity Battle of the Bands were part of fundraising festivities enjoyed by students at York St John College.

The annual RAG (Raise And Give) week kicked off with students attending lectures dressed in any kind of uniform, while other students toured York pubs shaking collecting tins before heading off to the Ikon and Diva nightclub at Clifton Moor.

Joe Johnson, a member of Shed Seven, and Stu Fletcher, a former member of the Seahorses, judged the Battle of the Bands at Fibbers. The winning band, Lead the Way, won half-a-day in a recording studio.

Other students paid to leave messages for those they secretly admired and gunged a member of the Students' Union.

Proceeds from the week, totalling £1,511, are to be shared between St Leonard's Hospice, Survive, NSPCC, Mind and Comic Relief.

Lucy Booth, York St John Students' Union RAG officer, said: "We wanted to give something back to the community and allow students the opportunity to have some fun while raising money at the same time.

"We had hoped to beat last year's amount and we are delighted with the funds we raised. We didn't anticipate making over £1,500."

Updated: 08:53 Tuesday, March 25, 2003