Harry Potter tickets sold to big firms

Thousands of children may have to wait up to weeks to see the new Harry Potter film because of corporate block-bookings.

Some cinemas have already sold the equivalent of 10 screenings for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which premieres in London next Sunday and opens nationwide on 16 November.

The Odeon chain has sold more than 100,000 advance tickets, and at least eight companies have inquired about hiring out its Leicester Square screen. Other cinemas have sold another 200,000 tickets, and UCI, which will screen Harry Potter in 180 of its 369 screens, has organised a series of "adults only" screenings.

But one child who is not worried by all this early success for the movie is its star, 12-year old Daniel Radcliffe. He says : "I'm just going to enjoy it. I might do this film and then disappear, or never act again."