SCHOOLCHILDREN from North Yorkshire who appear as extras in the Harry Potter blockbuster film have helped launch a new tourist guide.

Nine children helped to launch the Whitby and Filey Holiday Guide along with Scarborough Borough Council tourism and leisure cabinet member David Jeffels, at Goathland Station on the North York Moors Railway. The children, who are all from Whitby, were chosen from hundreds of hopefuls to star as extras in the film.

"The film creates a spellbinding world for film-goers and holidaymakers to the area can have an equally magic time visiting the borough's many attractions," said Coun Jeffels.

"The 2002 Holiday Guide has been re-designed following customer research and now focuses on the borough's wealth of coast, countryside, heritage and entertainments."

Updated: 12:53 Thursday, December 06, 2001