Norfolk cinemas are preparing for Potter-mania as the final instalment of Harry Potter flashes on to the big screen this week.

Three Norwich cinemas will please eager fans and show Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at one minute past midnight on Friday.

Vue cinema in the Mall will show two screenings.

Manager Terry McGeaghin said: 'We have two screenings at midnight so we have capacity for about 600 people.

'We have already sold 160 tickets. After 10.30pm it is over 18s only, so a lot of people will be going to see it then because there will be no youngsters.'

Cinema City will be screening a double bill of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The first part will be screened on Thursday, July 14 and part two will be shown straight after at one minute past midnight on July 15.

The Odeon in Norwich is offering fans the chance to buy 3D Harry Potter glasses. The cinema, which also has the midnight screening, has been hosting a Harry Potter marathon, where people can see the first seven films over seven nights, since July 8.

Trevor Wickes, manager of Hollywood cinemas, which has branches in Norwich, Lowestoft, Dereham, Great Yarmouth and Fakenham, said: 'I suspect that our customers will dress up. We are looking forward to the last one. A lot of people like Harry Potter. Bookings are going very well as expected. People will make an evening of it.'

One lucky couple magically managed to see the film on July 2, nearly two weeks before the public screening.

Former Hewett High School pupil, Rosanna Pendleton, 23, who now lives in North London, was the envy of thousands of fans when she attended a preview screening with her boyfriend Joseph Coope.

Rosanna said: 'I went to the preview screening at Leicester Square. My boyfriend works for a company that works with the Harry Potter production team so he managed to get tickets. I really enjoyed it. I think it is one of those films that is good for people of all ages. We saw it in 3D and the graphics are amazing. It was a bit more grown up than I thought it was going to be.' Security was high and before seeing the film, Rosanna and Joe had to hand in their mobile phones and have their bags checked.

Rosanna said that despite never reading the books, she is a huge fan of the films.

'Because I hadn't read the books I feel like I had a different experience, I had no idea what to expect.'

Rosanna will be going to see the film again this Friday.

lucy.wright@archant.co.uk