Mischa walks the plank

Hollywood actress Mischa Barton was forced to walk to the West End premiere of the Pirates Of The Caribbean sequel because her stretch limo was too long to get into Leicester Square.

Her driver could not manoeuvre the 30ft-long vehicle around a tight corner into the square - and his task was made more difficult because of the huge crowds who had turned out to spot the film's stars.

The 20-year-old London-born star of TV series The O.C. endured 40 stifling minutes in the back of the car before heading for the red carpet on foot.

Barton, who was wearing silver stilettos, was accompanied on her unscheduled walk by her fellow passengers and premiere guests Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins of Channel 4's The Friday Night Project.

Thousand of fans lined the square for the premiere of Pirates Of The Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest as temperatures hit 32C.

Security staff handed out bottles of water and sprayed a cool mist over the onlookers who were hoping to meet the movie's stars, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.

Several fans fainted and Depp helped one girl who was caught in the crush. Depp, who wore a cream fedora and shades, looked concerned as the girl was lifted to safety out of the crowd.

Depp, who reprises his role as Jack Sparrow, spent an hour and a half signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans, as did Bloom and Knightley.

The 21-year-old actress said: "It's quite crazy out there. It's really hot and I feel so sorry for all those people who have been standing out there all day. I know they're here for Johnny."

She wore a backless and nearly-frontless gold Gucci dress which revealed her slender frame. Knightley said: "Whatever people say about my weight they are all wrong. Hollywood is all about the way you look and I don't think that's the healthy thing for anyone.

"But if you're strong and comfortable with yourself then you're going to be fine."

She joked about her dress: "I haven't slashed anyone yet. I figured it was
hot outside and if you can't wear a dress like this on a day like today, then when can you?"

The actors, including co-star Mackenzie Crook, then went on to the swashbuckling aftershow party at Old Billingsgate, which took the pirate theme to extremes.