Download music, give to charity

Anyone downloading a track from the UK's Top 40 singles chart on iTunes before midnight on Saturday will be doing their bit for Comic Relief.

Though the tracks will still cost the same 79p, 20p of that will automatically go towards the Red Nose Day grand total.

Artists such as Take That, Kings of Leon, Lady Gaga, Oasis and The Prodigy currently all have singles in the Top 40.

Lily Allen said: "Music Relief will see the whole Top 40 turn red for a weekend. It's a really good way to celebrate music but also do some good as well."

You can also buy the official Comic Relief singles - (Barry) Islands in the Stream by Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones and I Just Can't Get Enough by The Saturdays.

Other ways to donate

There are other ways to donate to Comic Relief - two telephone lines to take £1 and £5 donations via text message have been set up.

All of the UK's mobile operators have pledged to ensure that all of the money sent via text goes to charity.

The £5 text number (66609) opened on 2 March and will be one of the options viewers can use to donate on the night of TV on 13 March, and since 27 February Radio 1 listeners have been able to send a £1 text (88808) to sponsor the celebrity team on the Red Nose Climb. Both donation lines close at midnight on 31 March 2009.

The government also said there would be no tax on donations.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, said: "The Government is fully behind the very important work of Comic Relief. That's why I'm delighted to confirm that no VAT will be charged on donations, so every penny donated will go straight to Comic Relief."

www.itunes.com/musicrelief