The Harry Potter stars in Piccadilly Gotcha Images

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DANIEL Radcliffe and Emma Watson cast a spell in central London last night as they filmed scenes for a brand new Harry Potter film.

Fans craned their necks to get a glimpse of the stars as a massive film production crew descended on Shaftesbury Avenue near the Trocadero.

Watson, who plays Hermione Granger, was dressed in a bright red party dress and struggled to keep warm as she wrapped a thick blanket around her shoulders in between scenes.

The sixth instalment - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - is not even in cinemas until July but the trio's appearance last night confirmed work is already under way on Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling's last book which is to be split into two films.

Radcliffe and Watson, both 19, were joined by Rupert Grint , 20, who plays Potter’s best friend Ron Weasley in scenes that had them running from a cafe.

Around 400 extras took part in the action which showed what Harry Potter fans would recognise as the 'cafe attack' scene from the final book.

In the story, the trio of friends flee the wedding of Ron's older brother Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacourt after they find out that the Ministry of Magic is now under evil Lord Voldemort's control.

They take refuge in a “Muggle” cafe among non-wizards but are attacked by two Death Eaters and flee to Harry's London hideout 12 Grimmauld Place in Central London.

Studio bosses are said to be concerned that the films are finished before the actors mature too much.

The three leads have all stared in more adult productions in between breaks from the franchise but the time it takes to make the movies means the screen versions are now several years behind the books.

It emerged today that director David Heyman may use computer technology similar to that used to age Brad Pitt in Benjamin Button so the three main actors can play their older selves.

The end of the seventh book takes place 19 years after the main story and features the characters as grown ups.

But Radcliffe has said he is worried the effect might not work, and added: "I am nervous about that because if it's good I'll be really, really pleased; if it's not good and that's what people are left with, that would be awful.

“If it's a choice between having me, Rupert and Emma looking a bit stupid and it being slightly comical or having other actors play us, I would go for other actors every time. So, we'll see."