LAUGHTER is a powerful sound - never more so than when dark shadows hang over the world.

As war against Iraq comes inevitably closer, fear and depression are emotions which are easy to find.

In the days ahead large numbers of people are very likely to be killed and maimed, and world peace left hanging in the balance.

In that terrifying context, we badly needed some Comic Relief. We needed to be silly; to go to work and school with crazy hairstyles; to wear red noses; to sit in bathtubs filled with baked beans; to throw custard pies; to laugh at the world - and ourselves.

Over 18 fun-packed years, Comic Relief has raised £250m for charity, with a target of £55m set for this year, and it is to be hoped that humour can be used as a potent weapon against poverty for many years to come.

With war almost certainly only days away, this year's red nose extravaganza was more welcome than ever.

After all, anything that can move us to laughter in these times of foreboding has to be a good thing.

By this time next week, we may be finding it very hard indeed to raise a smile.