KEN Dodd is renowned for his marathon five-hour shows but a group of Nottingham comedians plan to outdo the Squire of Knotty Ash with a gig lasting 24 hours. And it will all be improvised.

This weekend, MissImp, the Mission Improbable comedy group, will embark on the marathon show at The Art Organisation in Station Street.

"We'll have a lot of caffeinated drinks and snacks," says Helen Stead, one of 15 MissImp members who will be taking part.

"This is the first time that either I or the MissImp group have ever done anything on this scale, but it's for a good cause and we always like a challenge."

The aim is to raise £6,000 to help local comedy writer and Trent FM presenter James 'Lloydie' Lloyd take his play, Coming and Going, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.

"It was performed at the Nottingham Comedy Festival last October and was one of the festival's best received shows," says Helen, 22, from Ravenshead, who is a festival organiser.

"We want to help him take the play to the Fringe to show what Nottingham has to offer."

She adds: "We are hoping to raise £2,000 at this one event."

Coming and Going takes a look at how friendships are compromised when alcohol and sex get in the way.

"The main characters are the sort of people you could find on an average night out in the centre of Nottingham and I think most people will identify with, or know someone who is like at least one of them," says James, 36, who lives in the city centre.

"I was really excited by the response the play got at the Nottingham Comedy Festival.

"There were a lot of laughs, and a tremendous amount of encouragement for us to take the play to the Edinburgh Fringe."

The £6,000 is to cover venue hire, publicity and accommodation for a two-week run.

"Edinburgh is where a number of names that are part of the comedy and theatre fabric honed their art and got discovered."

James, who presents the afternoon show on Trent FM, has been writing and performing comedy for ten years. He joined MissImp a year ago.

The 24 Hour Improv begins at 5pm tomorrow.

"There will be 12 back-to-back shows for the whole 24 hours based on audience suggestions," says Helen.

"Think of the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? We do improv because we love it.

"You never know what's going to happen so every time you do a scene it's always going to be different."

Tickets are £3 for one visit or £6 if you want to come and go.

For more information, visit www.nottscomedyfestival. co.uk.