FILMING has started on the sixth Harry Potter movie at Gloucester Cathedral.

Cast and crew are on site at the historic building this morning, which doubles as the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Stars already spotted arriving include Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, and Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley.

They arrived on set at around 10am, accompanied by Alan Rickman, who plays Professor Snape, Dame Maggie Smith, who plays Professor McGonagall, and Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy.

Also spotted were a number of doubles - lookalikes including Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy.

Alan Rickman was also later caught on camera in full make-up as Professor Snape, as was Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley.

Reporter Kate Nicholls managed to get a quick look behind the scenes - and saw crew busy making magical potions ready for the filming of the sixth book in the series - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

She said: "I saw them pouring vividly-coloured soup into bowls, with different food colourings ready to be added. It looked as though they could only be getting potions ready."

There are 174 local children on site, who will be appearing as extras in the filming, and more than 200 crew members at the Cathedral.

A blue-screen has been erected in the Cathedral's cloisters to help with the computer generated effects which will be added later.

Two sets of crutches were also spotted arriving at the set - leading to speculation the scenes after Ron falls from his broom in a game of quidditch could be being filmed.

It is believed filing will go on until 7pm tonight, and will be finished at the Cathedral by the end of tomorrow.

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The stars came out for Harry Potter yesterday as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was brought to life again at Gloucester Cathedral.

Among those waiting to catch a glimpse of heart-throb Daniel Radcliffe were schoolgirls, tourists and parents.

At about 10am Daniel, who plays the teen wizard, and Rupert Grint, Harry's pal Ron Weasley, arrived at the front of the Cathedral. A fleet of Mercedes and Lexus vehicles conveyed them with fellow stars Alan Rickman, (Professor Snape, Dame Maggie Smith, (Professor McGonagall), and Tom Felton, (Draco Malfoy). Each star has their own caravan close by.

But there was no sign of Emma Watson, (Hermione Granger), who's not in town to film Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - the sixth Harry Potter movie.

A quick look behind the scenes by our reporter revealed crew members apparently busy making magical potions ready for filming. The dark and deadly potions were actually made from "Covent Garden" brand soup into bowls, with different food colourings ready to be added.

Yesterday the main stars filmed the first scene and in the afternoon 174 local children, (appearing as extras), were brought onto the site.

One onlooker Christine Swan, 59, who lives in the city centre, said: "It is very exciting. I have read all the books and I'm inquisitive about what is going on."

Potter fan Sally Giles, 31, from London, said: "I haven't seen any stars but it is very exciting."

Emma Penny, of Tewkesbury, who was collecting her son Jim, five, from nearby Wardle House, said: "I have read all the books and am particularly interested now because they have been filmed on our doorstep."

Filming is taking place in two corridors of the Cathedral's cloisters which double up as corridors from Hogwarts School. A blue screen has been erected in the Cathedral's cloisters to help with computer-generated effects which are added later.

We also saw two sets of crutches - leading to speculation the hospital scenes after Ron falls from his broom in a game of quidditch could be filmed there. And a group of elderly women were seen hurrying onto the set, suggesting that a scene of Dumbledore's funeral may be filmed.

Cathedral Dean Nick Bury said the filming was very exciting but he's been sworn to secrecy about the production. "It is good for Gloucester. We have not been told anything about the filming. We have just been telling everyone they will have to wait for the film."

There are more than 200 crew members on site.

The Reel Meals Take Two food company, from Hertfordshire, is supplying the food for cast and crew. Yesterday it served up more than 300 bacon butties for breakfast and stocks included 50 kilos of vegetables and 50 kilos of minced beef.

For lunch, cast and crew enjoyed chicken supreme with a leek sauce, beef lasagne, grilled salmon with a sweet chilli sauce or pasta with roasted peppers.

Head of the catering company, Richard Gibbs, said: "It is fantastic. I have met all the stars and they are exceptionally nice, especially Daniel, Rupert and Emma (who he worked with elsewhere). Daniel often eats the food on offer although he likes organic stuff.

"He is not fussy but he has made a few requests for organic vegetables."

[This is Gloucestershire || 8 February 2008 || Original articles found here and here]