ARDENT Harry Potter fan, 12-year-old Nell Cooper scooped a bit of magic for herself when she went to London to see The Goblet of Fire premiere.

It was the first time Nell had persuaded her mum to let her make the trek to London, with the hope of seeing her favourite stars walk the red carpet at the UK premiere.

Not keen at first, it turned out that Nell and her sister were already going to be in London that weekend, visiting an aunt.

"I turned up at Leicester Square to find hundreds of eager fans dressed in their Harry Potter merchandise," Nell said.

"I too was dressed in my Harry Potter cloak and T-shirt.

"I joined the crowds in the pouring rain, waiting until 5pm loomed. As it did, a policewoman patrolling the area strode over and asked me and my aunt if we would like to watch the film with the stars. At first we weren't sure what she was asking, but we said yes anyway.

"I mean, of course we wanted to watch the film!"

Two rows had been set aside at the invitation-only screening for genuine Potter fans, and Nell and her aunt, Celia Campbell, were two of the chosen few.

Once inside the Odeon, Nell grabbed the opportunity to get a couple of autographs and overheard some of the teenage cast gossiping about how they were going to feel about seeing themselves on screen.

In addition to the film's cast and crew there were other special invitees, including Madonna and her daughter, Lourdes.

"Beside each leopard skin seat laid free drinks and popcorn - I was in heaven!" Nell said.

"I have always claimed to be Harry Potter's biggest fan, and there I was, one of a crowd of thousands, sat in the auditorium surrounded by celebrities.

"I watched the brilliant film, not quite concentrating, glancing around at all the actors cringing at seeing themselves on the big screen."

And how did the young fan rate the fourth film in the blockbuster series?

"Spectacular. Much darker than the previous ones," she said.

"It moved rather fast and if you hadn't read the book you'd struggle to keep up.

"There are lots of special features, including a stunning Quidditch World Cup stadium which you get a bird's eye view of.

"The characters are all growing up. Ginny Weasley is all teenagey and Harry and Ron have both got long hair. Hermione is more careful about how she looks and what she says, but always helps Harry and Ron.

"I think it's the best and will go and see it again at Hereford Odeon."

New at Aylestone School, some of Nell's friends didn't believe she had actually got to watch the premiere alongside the stars but her friends outside of school thought the whole thing was 'wow'.

A Ron fan as opposed to a Harry groupie, Nell enjoys the story because it is so different from this world.

"You can forget where you are when you start reading it," she said.

"I read the newest book in two days and couldn't put it down.

"I realise how lucky I was to be in the cinema, close enough to touch the actors, while the screaming fans stood cheering outside.

"Why it was me who got chosen to live a dream for three hours, I have still yet to find out."

l Harry Potter opens at cinemas around the county this weekend.