AS TRICKS go, it's one even a Harry Potter spell would struggle to match.

Lancashire's smallest Cinema, which usually waits four weeks to show blockbusters, has managed to persuade movie bosses to put them top of the list for this year's biggest release.

Not only did Warner Bros offer a copy of the film for its official release date next Friday, but also for the four preview days, starting on Bank Holiday Monday.

Now the owner of the 190-seat independent Palace Cinema in Market Place, Longridge, is appealing to residents from across the Ribble Valley to come and see Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban to make sure they get first shout on future big releases.

Normally, big releases get shown at cinemas belonging to big chains in towns and cities, while smaller, independent cinemas have to wait until there are spare copies - normally when the multiplexes start sending them back.

But Dorothy Williamson, who owns The Palace, was determined film fans in the Ribble Valley should get to enjoy Harry's third adventure without having to travel to Preston, Burnley or Blackburn.

The breakthrough means local cinema goers will see the film at the same time as blockbuster fans at major multiplexes - if not before!

Dorothy, who ran the cinema with her husband John from 1976 until 1994, and then from 2000 until he died last year before assuming sole responsibility for the venue, said: "The whole idea of barring, or only giving certain cinemas certain films, normally ones made by the same company which owns the cinema, was banned a while ago by the Government.

"But it is still really difficult to get the films in at the same time as the multiplexes because they do take more money, so get priority.

"We normally get told there aren't enough copies, which is the impression we got when we first approach Warner Bros about the Harry Potter film.

"Then they said they didn't think we'd make enough money to justify having it, but I said that I wouldn't if I didn't get the chance to show it early on."

Film buff and Ribble Valley Council leader John Hill, said: "This is fantastic news and shows rural areas like Ribble Valley can compete with the multiplexes."

The film shows at The Palace at 12.30pm, 4pm and 7.30pm from Monday to Thursday, then at 3.30pm and 7pm on Friday and Saturday and then at 7pm nightly.