THE father of murdered teenage actor Rob Knox has spoken of his emotion at seeing his son in the latest Harry Potter film.

The Knox family joined some of those who worked on the film for a private viewing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on Saturday before attending the premiere in London on Tuesday night.

Rob, 18, of Maidstone Road, Sidcup, was stabbed to death outside the Metro Bar in Station Road, Sidcup, in May last year, just days after finishing filming his part in the film.

Karl Bishop, aged 22, of Carlton Road, Sidcup, is serving 20 years in jail for Rob's murder.

Colin Knox, 56, said Time Warner had arranged for the viewing to "ease us into the film".

He said: "I had not seen Rob for a couple of weeks before his death so, for me, it captured the last moments of Rob's life."

Mr Knox said before the film he had met "the three Davids", director David Yates and producers David Barron and David Heyman.

He said: "They had such nice things to say about Rob - about his talent and professionalism.

"And they gave me a personal goodie bag including out-takes from the film.

"I got so emotional, I had to leave the room."

He said he had expected to break down with emotion when he viewed the film, but he said he felt a mixture of happiness and sadness when he saw the scene in which Rob appeared.

He said: "When the film finished, it all went totally silent.

"Then, when Rob's name came up on the credits, everyone started clapping."

Three days later, the family had to face the film premiere in London's Leicester Square.

Mr Knox said: "Time Warner sent a limousine for us, which took us right to the red carpet.

"There was just a mass of people, and I have never seen so many cameras.

"We managed to walk the red carpet because the rain had just finished.

"There was lots of cheering. It was quite an occasion.

"It was very different from the private viewing.

"This time we were part of the circus."

Mr Knox described the decision by the cast and crew to wear white ribbons in his son's memory as "an excellent gesture".

He said he had heard about it a couple of days before the premiere.

He said: "I just broke down. It was such a sweet thing to do. It was so poignant.

"They have all been so nice to Robert.

"We did enjoy the premiere and talking to the people who were in it and who made it.

"They told such sweet stories about Rob."

The family also attended the after-premiere cocktail party.

Mr Knox said the family was very appreciative of the efforts and the thoughtfulness of Time Warner.

He said afterwards he had spoken to his dead son about the events.

He added: "I miss him terribly and I talk to him every day."

The family is continuing its efforts to campaign against violence and knife crime and to raise cash for the Rob Knox Memorial Trust.

Mr Knox revealed to News Shopper he has written the lyrics for a song about his son and about losing him.

He said: "I have recruited a very talented 16-year-old singer who has been very supportive of the family's campaign, and she is going to sing it."

Mr Knox has also attracted an experienced songwriter and producer and hopes the CD will be released and top the charts in the next few months.

All the cash raised will go to the trust.

He announced the trust will be sponsoring the training of six street pastors who will be out on the streets at night, helping to calm down potentially volatile situations and offering help to young people.

The search is also under way for a suitably talented young person who will receive a scholarship from the trust for a place at theatrical college.

In the meantime, Mr Knox said the family continues to support the Charlton Athletic FC campaign, Street Violence Ruins Lives.