DURHAM Cathedral has once again been turned into a giant film set as a backdrop for the latest Harry Potter movie.

A cast and crew of hundreds from Warner Bros returned 15 months after filming scenes at the cathedral for the first box office hit, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Filming is taking place on several days over the next fortnight within the cathedral, with scenes featuring the three child principles - Daniel Radcliffe, in the title role, and fellow Hogwart's pupils Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

A larger-than-life Robbie Coltrane, as gentle giant Hagrid, was shooting with the trio and extras from nearby Durham Chorister School in the cloisters yesterday.

As a place of worship, the cathedral remains open to the public, but visitors are warned, on arrival, of disruption in the cloisters and are asked not to take any photographs.

The cathedral's dean and chapter issued a statement welcoming "all who visit the cathedral" and apologising if the visit has in any way been marred by the filming.

But it added that it reserves the right to ask any member of the public to leave the dean and chapter property, at any time.

Although the crew did not announce the visit, the presence of a fleet of vans and a marquee on Palace Green, outside the cathedral, rather gave the game away.

A Warner Bros spokeswoman said: "We do not announce our visits while filming and we try to keep a low profile. It's partly for safety reasons, but it's also so as not to disappoint any youngsters.

"If we encouraged people to turn up, children would expect to see filming take place and perhaps attempt to get autographs, whereas we need to film without interruptions.

"We also want to preserve the magic of the film. Many youngsters who write to us from all over the world believe it's true."

Harry Potter II, as it has been dubbed, is scheduled for a launch in November.