HARRY Potter mania has finally arrived with local cinemas prepared for the mad rush the release of the first adaptation of J.K Rowling's book - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - will inevitably cause.

Cineworld in Bishop's Stortford screened 25 special previews at the weekend with an average 13 showings a day.

The cinema expected more than 3,000 people would have seen the movie over the weekend, with 70 per cent of preview tickets sold out in the first few days they were on sale.

More than 2,000 tickets have already been sold for the opening week and people will be able to catch Harry and his wizard friends 12 times a day on three screens.

The first 200 children to see the film will receive a certificate to say they were the first to see Harry Potter in Bishop's Stortford.

Cineworld duty manager Darren Briscow said: "Without a shadow of a doubt Harry Potter will be the film of the year. Everyone loves the books, everyone knows about the film and everyone wants to see this movie. Virtually every call I've taken has been for Harry Potter. It's going Harry mad."

Harlow's UGC cinema also previewed The Philosopher's Stone over the weekend with ten shows screened on both days on two of the cinema's screens. The number of screenings will remain the same when the film goes on general release this Friday.

Tickets sales have been going strong since they were made available on October 19.

UGC spokesman Nicki Ridout said: "Sales are doing very well. Advance bookings are 250 per cent higher than they were for Toy Story II, which was the biggest film of 2000, and are on par with Star Wars: The Phantom Menace which was the biggest film for advanced bookings ever. It looks like it's going to be huge."

Pupils from Roydon Primary School will be among the first to see the much-hyped film.

The school has booked an entire screening at the Harlow UGC on Friday the film's opening day because the Harry Potter books have been such a big hit. The youngsters and their reachers will dress as witches and wizards.

The school even has a Harry Potter club where the children do activities based on particular chapters.

Head teacher Wayne Howsen, who is reading the first Harry Potter book, said: "A lot of the children are really into Harry Potter and we want to make school a fun place so we decided to hire out one of the screens for the juniors.

"The books have been really popular since last summer.

"They appeal to children because it's escapism and the stories are really exciting. The film is going to be just as popular and I'm sure all the children going will really enjoy it."

November 14, 2001 8:15