BRIAN Potter's Phoenix Club has burned down more times than the wheelchair-bound owner can care to remember.

But more than 500 people turned up at the Filmworks complex in Manchester to see Potter's comic creator Peter Kay resurrect the working men's club on the big screen.

In a special showing for Comic Relief, bosses at the cinema put on two episodes from the first hilarious series of Channel 4's Phoenix Nights.

And Peter Kay was on hand to make sure the fund-raising event also helped to raise the roof with laughter.

Before the show began, he said: "This is mad isn't it? Sitting in a cinema watching Phoenix Nights with all these people."

Stars of the comedy, Patrick McGuinness (who plays Paddy) and Archie Kelly (who plays Kenny Senior) also appeared to present the two episodes and a host of out-takes.

There was wonderful banter by the two talented comedians as they joked with the audience, effortlessly bouncing one liners off each other.

They also hosted an auction of Phoenix Nights-related memorabilia -- two highly prized scripts of the first series which went to Coronation Street's Sally Lindsay (Shelley) and Samia Ghadie (Maria) for £800, and a signed DVD which was sold for £200 to a member of the audience.

Suranne Jones (Karen McDonald), also tried to bid for the DVD with an "enticing" offer of £200, a shed, her mum, dad and grandma.

By this time, Peter Kay had appeared on stage driving around on a disabled scooter.

The audience lapped up every second of episodes three and four of Phoenix Nights: Pyskick Tonite? and Singles Night. "Get your hand off my knee," Archie said to Patrick when the lights when down.

And the Street stars roared with laughter as they watched the action from a private viewing gallery above the auditorium.

The crowd adored the out-takes -- dubbed It'll Be Alright on the Phoenix Nights -- even more.

Each audience member had paid £10. "50p of that will go to Comic Relief," Patrick joked. "The rest will go to the Patrick McGuinness appreciation fund."

After the show, Peter thanked the audience and said: "God Bless you all. You have raised a lot of money for Comic Relief."

In the VIP room, Peter, who was with his mum Deidre and wife Susan, mingled with the Coronation Street stars.