Photo Premiere in Trafalgar Square London last week : Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Pottermania reached fever pitch in London last week, where the world premiere of the last Famous Movies Harry Potter film was held in Trafalgar Square. Tears were shed by New Famous Artist Emma Watson and JK Rowling as thousands of fans waved placards, collected autographs and screamed their appreciation for the stars on Thursday afternoon. Some had slept on the streets for almost a week - braving torrential rain in order to secure a spot next to the red carpet - but the atmosphere was more elated than exhausted, with buzzing groups dressed up in stripy scarfs, wizards' hats and Harry's signature round glasses.

Speaking from the red carpet, the film's star, Daniel Radcliffe, struggled to express his emotions. "It's been the most amazing, inspirational, surreal, bizarre, wonderful 10 years that I will probably ever have in all my life," he said, adding that he owes any future success to "the fact that I got very, very lucky when I was 11".

Deafening screams went up from the crowd for Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the film's other young stars, but perhaps the biggest cheer of the night went to the series' author, JK Rowling, who fought back tears throughout her speech. "You know what, maybe I'll just write another one," she quipped, adding quickly, "that is a joke - but I've never come closer than standing here tonight." She thanked the fans, saying that "no story lives unless someone wants to listen.

It was the biggest premiere event in London's history, with a red carpet that began in Trafalgar Square and stretched all the way to Leicester Square, where the film screened. Hundreds of police officers were present and a barrier separated lucky (and tenacious) fans who had managed to get the all-important red wristbands, which allowed access to Trafalgar Square for the red-carpet event, from all the other eager crowds who climbed on benches, chairs and nearby buildings to get a glimpse of the action from behind the wall.

Sixteen-year-old Eva Wharton was one of those who got to see the action up close. With melting red-and-yellow face paint (the colours of the Hogwarts quidditch team), and a huge poster signed by the cast, she said that she had started queuing on Tuesday night, sleeping on the street for two nights in a sleeping bag. When it rained, she huddled under a groundsheet.

"The worst part was trying to sleep," she said. "Everyone's talking and there's nowhere comfortable." The best moment, she said, was getting the stars' autographs - especially Grint, the actor who plays Harry's pal Ron Weasley and who seems to be the cast's main heartthrob, judging by the placards on display.

Fifteen-year-old Emily Cornelius, from Hayling Island in Hampshire, was there with her friend Sophie Good, who was carrying a placard, which read "Keep Calm and Marry Ron". The pair had arrived at Trafalgar Square on Wednesday morning with a handful of others, all dressed up with fake glasses and lightning-shaped scars, but they had all missed out on the wristbands.

"We're gutted," Emily said. "We've been standing here in the pouring rain all day - we had umbrellas but they started leaking." It wasn't all gloom, though, despite the girls' sadness that the franchise was coming to an end. "It's so good to be here and experience everything," Emily added. "Even if you can't really get a clear view, the atmosphere is electric."

It had only taken that group a little more than two hours to make the trip to Trafalgar Square, but there were plenty of fans who had travelled considerably farther. Five women in their mid-twenties, wearing witches' hats and carrying wands, had come from Italy. One carried a sign reading "Joanne, thanks for bringing the magic in our lives".

Another girl, Lou Ravelli, had travelled from Toulouse in the south of France to the premiere as a 14th birthday treat, although she hadn't managed to get red-carpet access. She said that the first Harry Potter book had come out the year she was born, so she had grown up alongside the characters. "It's incredible," she said. "I was so happy to see Draco Malfoy! I love Harry Potter.