Stores in Wales are some of the best at selling red noses

Charity organisers had promised to replenish stocks from other parts of the UK but thousands of people still face having to go without one.

Major Sainsbury's stores sold their last red noses as early as Wednesday.

Comic Relief said: "This means we have raised lots of money to help tackle poverty and promote social justice in the UK and in Africa."

Oxfam said its 42 Welsh stores had sold �100,000-worth of Comic Relief merchandise - noses and badges - during the official five-week sales campaign.

The last Oxfam red nose was sold on Thursday. A spokeswoman said seven of the charity's south Wales stores were in its UK top 20 for Comic Relief sales.

The spokeswoman said: "It's fantastic to sell out the day before Red Nose Day.

"We're always urging people to buy early to avoid disappointment, so remember that next time!"

Sainsbury's sold 10,000 red noses at its Queen Street store in Cardiff city centre and 12,000 at its Colcester Avenue site in the city. All had gone by Wednesday.

Comic Relief said: "The success of this year's Red Nose Day 2005 campaign has led to an extraordinary demand for the red nose and it seems that stocks are running low throughout the country, even though this year 7.2 million noses were produced.