The story is complete pants. We give the money straight back to Comic Relief

Adrian Hosford BT spokesman

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday, he said: "The story is complete pants. We give the money straight back to Comic Relief.

"We are contributing about �350,000.

"In addition, thousands of BT people up and down the country give a lot more."

He said: "BT does not make anything."

Mr Hosford also said that volunteers worked through the night to ensure callers got through on Friday.

Legal changes sought

He said that by law the phone company had to charge all customers a commercial rate for calls.

Labour MP Martin O'Neill, chairman of the trade and industry select committee, has called for a change in the law so charities can be exempt from such charges.

Comic Relief organisers are celebrating after the charity appeal total passed �25m, almost twice as much raised at this stage in 1999.

The last Red Nose Day, in 1999, made �35m, with �12m coming in over the weekend of the charity appeal.

More than �500,000 was raised through Celebrity Big Brother by 3.2 million people who phoned to vote for or against housemates during the week-long contest.

A record amount has also been raised online, with �2m coming from internet donations.