LEGO wars has erupted in East Lancashire as parents battle to get the latest products in the Harry Potter range in time for Christmas.

Hot on the heels of what has been hailed the film of the year, Harry Potter merchandise has become this year's must-have with the Lego range, including Hogwarts Castle and the Hogwarts Express train, at the top of thousands of children's presents' lists.

Now stockists throughout the area are using their own brands of wizardry to get as much Lego as they can on to the shelves in time for the big day.

But the Hogwart Express managed to steam into Cowgills of Clitheroe this week, along with the Lego versions of the Sorting Hat, Forbidden Corridor and the Diagon Alley shops also in stock at the Market Place store.

Shop manager David Cowgill said: "We have had customers asking for months and months whether we were getting any of the Harry Potter Lego in and we've had to tell them we just didn't know.

"Lego told me that this stuff is pretty hard to get hold of, so we are expecting quite a lot of interest in the run up to Christmas."

He added: "It was amazing on Saturday. People were coming into the shop for other things and just taking one each of the products off the shelves.

The famous Hogwarts Express set, which retails at £43.99, comes with its own Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger figures, plus a Kings Cross platform.

There are 11 products in the range, which vary in price from £4.99 to £79.99 for the Hogwarts Castle.

But, according to the official Lego website, the Hogwarts Express is unlikely to arrive on time for Christmas.

Anyone ordering on-line from the range should expect their order to be despatched by late January 2002.

Other stores in the area have also had to weave their magic to stock the shelves.

A spokesperson for Woolworths, in Castle Street, Clitheroe, said: "We did have some Lego in a few weeks ago, but it sold out in days.

"We cannot get hold of any more in time for Christmas.

"The larger stores in our chain will probably be able to re-stock, but there's so much call for it at the moment."

And Rose Fowler, from Mercer and Son Ltd, in Northgate, Blackburn, said: "We have had Harry Potter Lego in in small amounts, but we, like most stores, are on an allocation rota.

"I don't think we will be able to get any more this side of Christmas."

She added: "The whole Harry Potter phenomenon has taken us all by surprise, especially Lego themselves."

A spokesperson for Benn's Toy Centre, in Burnley, said: "We have had stock in, such as the trains and the castles, but they have all gone out as fast as we can put them on the shelves.

"We don't know if we will be getting any more in.

"We have just been told that if there is any stock spare it will be distributed, so we'll have to wait and see."

A spokesperson for Lego said: "The Harry Potter range is in great demand and we are doing are best to distribute it to as many outlets as we can in time for Christmas."