Ananova:

Celebrities are taking part in charity events around the country aimed at encouraging people to give time to their local communities.

TV presenters Mariella Frostrup and Davina McCall, and model Emma Noble, have pledged their support to Make a Difference Day.

Other personalities who have agreed to join in the day, organised by Community Service Volunteers (CSV), include Radio 1 DJ Trevor Nelson and girl band Precious.

CSV says the event is the UK's biggest single day of volunteering with more than 25,000 people expected to take part in more than 1,000 activities nationwide.

Frostrup will be helping to launch new art classes set up by the Refugee Council at the Pembury Hotel in Finsbury Park, north London, to give children staying there a chance to be creative.

And Noble will be attempting to create the longest chain of cans in the world with volunteers from Sidcup in Kent.

The "Ana-can-da" will have to be more than 11,252 cans long if it is to beat the world record set in Hong Kong last year.

The cans will then be recycled and the proceeds donated to the Queen Mary's Children's cancer appeal.