Ref. 28344-28AROUND 500 children from Highworth Warneford School were given the afternoon off yesterday to watch the latest Lord of the Rings blockbuster.

The year nine, 10, and 11 pupils packed three screens at Cineworld at the Green-bridge Retail Park to see The Return of the King the eagerly awaited final part in the trilogy, based on the books by JRR Tolkien.

Ben Jafari, 13, said the film certainly lived up to the expectations and hype surrounding its launch.

He said: "It is the best one yet much better than the others.

"It's so like the book and completely action-packed. It's excellent."

Veronica Phillipson, head of music at the Shrivenham Road school agreed.

She said: "I wouldn't have missed this film for anything. It was fantastic."

Mrs Phillipson added: "We take these year groups out every year. It's a nice break from teaching."

Cineworld manager Paul Bezzant, reckons the film, which is rated 12A meaning under-12 years can only go with an adult, could emerge as the new Star Wars.

He said: "It is definitely one of those films which you see when you're eight or nine and still talk about 20 years later.

"For me it was Star Wars this film could reach that same level.

"Without a doubt this will be one of the biggest films in history."

Kevin Shoesmith