It was the day when a sprinkling of Harry Potter movie magic came to the Downs - but without the boy wizard himself.

Filming began yesterday on the latest big-screen instalment of JK Rowling's best-selling adventures.

Producers of the £170 million film, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, chose downland in Eastbourne as the backdrop to the Quidditch World Cup.

Scouts at Warner Brothers chose land near St Bede's School in Duke's Drive.

Film crews arrived early amid bright sunshine to make preparations on the Downs.

A helicopter with filming equipment on board soared over the coastline.

However, because the downland is merely being used as backdrops, none of the film's star characters were appearing in Eastbourne.

Eastbourne's elevation to premiere movie location still caused excitement in the town.

A handful of children made the trip to Beachy Head in the hope of glimpsing some of the actors.

Jo Andrews, 14, of Lower Meads, Eastbourne, said: "It's so cool it's being shot in Eastbourne.

"I can't wait to see how Eastbourne looks when it comes out in the cinema. I'll be the first in the queue."

The Goblet of Fire is the fourth film adaptation of the series and is due for cinema release in November next year.

New additions to the cast include Ralph Fiennes as the evil Lord Voldemort and Miranda Richardson as journalist Rita Skeeter.

Directed by Four Weddings and a Funeral film-maker Mike Newell, shooting began in June.