Hoverboards, Segways and chutes for stairs...the third sector has gone pranking mad for 1 April

If you thought the world of charity communications was staid and boring, think again.

News broke this morning that Diabetes UK will be the first charity to test run hoverboards as part of its London-Paris bike ride.

Then Battersea Cat and Dog Home released the bombshell it has just taken in a homeless lion called April.

And, just as things were settling down, Cancer Research UK issued a press release, to the chagrin of its loyal supporters who have been in training for its annual fundraising Night Walk, that it will be done exclusively on, wait for it, motorised Segways.

The clue to it all this unprecedented flurry of barely believable stories is in the date: 1 April.

And it seems charities more than any other year before have shamelessly indulged in a fair amount of tomfoolery to banish the winter blues.

But don’t take TFN’s word for it: Storify, the social network site, has gone one better and assembled the best charity April Fool wind ups for your amusement.