Northern Ireland's Red Nose Day has been kicked off by actor James Nesbitt.

The Cold Feet star visited a Comic Relief funded project in north Belfast to see how the charity's money is spent.

The 123 House on the Cliftonville Road is a project set up by parents to provide recreational and educational resources across the community.

Comic Relief money is helping fund the salary of an assistant youth worker at 123 House and paid for toys and equipment for the centre.

Local projects

"123 House are also going out on to the streets to try and reach the young people that are not coming to them, but they think they might benefit from some support," said a spokesman.

The project also runs a creche, playgroup, return to work programme and an outreach and family support programme.

This Welsh glasshouse has been turned into a giant red nose

More than �4m has been spent in Northern Ireland since Comic Relief began.

Of that money, �1.5m has been allocated to local projects over the last two years.

The BT Tower, one of the most recognisable features on London's skyline, has been turned scarlet to mark the start of this year's Comic Relief appeal.

Children's BBC presenter Angellica Bell and Channel 4 chat show host Graham Norton pushed a "red nose" plunger to light up the tower on Friday evening.

The stunt officially launched the 2003 Comic Relief appeal which will culminate in the Red Nose Day fundraising telethon on 14 March.

The famous 189-metre tower, situated in London's West End was bathed in red light from the top of nearby BBC Broadcasting House.

BT has supported the charity since the first Red Nose Day in 1988 offering call centre facilities and volunteers to help take cash pledges from BBC viewers.

'Big Hair'

Other events planned for this year's fundraising efforts include a celebrity version of the BBC's talent show Fame Academy.

The domed glasshouse at the National Botanic Garden of Wales has been transformed into the world's biggest red nose with red lights, thanks to CBBC.

And CBBC will be playing a major role in the event, staging some whacky stunts with the help of their young audience.

In Belfast a 45ft by 45ft jigsaw puzzle has been built by a group of children and filmed for television.

Since Comic Relief began in 1985, 4,449 grants have been given to projects working with poor and disadvantaged people in the UK, totalling over �72.4m.

Another �141.7m has been given to projects in Africa.