TEACHERS are delighted that schoolboy wizard Harry Potter has cast a spell over their pupils -- encouraging them to read and improve their literacy.

Youngsters have this week been glued to the big screen at the Apollo Cinema, Burnley, as the bespectacled sorcerer and his friends made Celluloid magic for two-and-a-half hours in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

But the morning out has great educational value as one of the government's literacy targets for Key Stage Two pupils is for them to study novels in print and compare them with the film, looking at the treatment of the plot and the development of the characters.

Youngsters from several East Lancashire schools are visiting the Burnley cinema this week for private screenings.

Mrs Anne Duke, head teacher at Mount Pleasant County Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors, said about 220 junior pupils would be watching the film today. No parents had voiced any concerns to her about their child reading Harry Potter books and none of the pupils had shown any signs of worrying behaviour as a result.

She said: "We just take the view that children reading is a beneficial thing. The books have inspired children to read."

Mrs Christina Bradley, head teacher of St Mary's RC Primary School, Sabden - a village renowned for its folklore about witchcraft - echoed Mrs Duke's views.

"No parents have voiced any concerns and the message that children get is very much that good triumphs over evil and if you do horrible things, in the end you will come a cropper," she said.

A spokesman for the Blackburn diocese said that, although the Bible advised people not to dabble in the occult, the Harry Potter stories could be used to encourage discussion about good and evil.

Here's what pupils of St Mary's School, Sabden, thought:

STEPHANIE EDWARDS: "I thought it was great. I have read some of the books and I thought the film was even better.

"The best bit was when Harry went shopping for magic wands."

MARTIN SHORTER: "I enjoyed the film. The bit I liked best was when Hermione was in the magic class and she lifted a feather up.

"I would like to be able to do magic spells!"

THOMAS FITZPATRICK: "I have not read any Harry Potter books but I will now I have seen the film.

"The bit I liked best was when they were playing quidditch (a kind of football on broomsticks)."

OLIVIA McGLYNN: "I haven't read any of the books but the film was really good.

"My mum has read Harry Potter and I shall tell her how good it was so she will go with dad - and take me to see it again."

KATHRYN CLARKSON: "I have read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets.

"The book and the film were quite similar and I would like to see it again. Everyone enjoyed it."

FIONA TORMEY: "I have read Harry Potter and enjoyed the book. I have been interested in the Harry Potter stories for a while.

"The film lived up to my expectations, it was exciting and very good."