Spider-Man stars light up New York

ANDREW GARFIELD and girlfriend EMMA STONE turned New York's iconic Empire State Building Spider-Man red and blue on Monday (25Jun12) in aid of a cancer charity.

The Amazing Spider-Man co-stars and real-life lovers were joined by actors Rhys Ifans and Denis Leary, as well as director Marc Webb and producer Matt Tolmach, as they turned on the lights of the Manhattan landmark.

The lighting ceremony honored the Stand Up 2 Cancer organization, which raises funds for research into the disease and has a personal link to the stars - the film's late producer Laura Ziskin, who lost her battle with breast cancer last year (Jun11), co-founded the charity.

The event was the first of many scheduled for the Big Apple - city officials have proclaimed the next seven days Spider-Man Week to mark the blockbuster's U.S. release on 3 July (12).

Welshman Ifans was a little overcome with emotion as he joined his co-stars at the top of the Empire State Building for the special day: "I'm actually quite moved when you see this incredible city laid out before you."