HARRY Potter mania hit York today as the blockbuster movie opened on general release.

The lucky few who have already seen preview screenings of Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stonehave given the film a resounding thumbs-up.

Warner Brothers cinema at Clifton Moor is screening 14 shows a day, plus two extra late night shows tomorrow - and already many of them are booked up.

General manager Alan May said: "I think this is going to be the biggest film of all time. It's on the same lines as Jurassic Park and Independence Day - but bigger.

"We haven't seen demand for tickets and queues like this for a few years."

Shows start as early as 9.30am and are running on four screens all day. Alan added: "We have four copies of the film so that everyone gets the chance to come along and enjoy it. We are just advising people to book their tickets in advance and get organised.

"We've already had 10,000 come to the previews last weekend - which is almost a tenth of the city."

Staff at City Screen in Coney Street have reported streams of people coming in to book and collect tickets for the coming week.

Duty manager Adam Watson said they had three shows a day and already several were full for the weekend.

Julia Hoddart, duty manager at the Odeon in Blossom Street, said: "We've got four shows a day and we are hoping to fill the seats."

Ticket sales for the Odeon nationwide have topped £2 million, with fans of the young wizard desperate to see how his adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry translate to the big screen.

Updated: 10:22 Friday, November 16, 2001