MOVIE star Julie Walters had everyone chuckling as she cut the ribbon at a cafe with a difference yesterday.

The 66-year-old actress, who lives in Plaistow, near Billingshurst, brought the house down as she launched charity Team Domenica in Brighton.

The project, founded by charity campaigner Rosa Monckton, is based in a café in the Old Steine where adults can study and prepare for work.

It opens to the public on September 12.

The Billy Elliot star said: "I wanted to help in any way that will help Team Domenica succeed. It is a fantastic idea and an incredibly worthwhile idea which is much needed."

The charity has taken on 21 candidates to help find work this year.

Plans to open four more centres along the south coast are already in progress. If successful, the project will be rolled out nationally.

The project is named after Rosa's daughter Domenica who has Down's syndrome.

The charity's motto: Take a Chance on Me, is taken from Domenica's favourite song from the musical Mamma Mia!

Ms Monckton, 62, said: "I'm really elated to know this will be able to make a difference to people's lives. We chose Brighton because Domenica absolutely loves living here and so enjoyed her time at City College.

"It's an incredibly diverse and welcoming city and so it is a great place to launch this project."

She said the next big date in the charity's calendar will be October 12 when chef Nigella Lawson will visit to show staff how to make a salad she has created especially for the café.

Domenica, 21, whose godmother was Princess Diana, said: "I love living here - I love the sea. I really liked studying at City College - particularly taking part in cooking classes. I am feeling a little nervous about the opening but also really happy and excited that so many people are supporting it."

Councillor Pete West, mayor of Brighton and Hove, praised the launch and said it was a great example of the city's can do attitude.

For more details teamdomenica.com