Harry Potter fans have been given a sneak preview of the latest movie with the release of the first stills from Order of the Phoenix, the fifth film in the series based on JK Rowling's books.

In one image, Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays the young wizard, is seen crouching in an grimy alleyway as he attempts to defend himself from an attack by the Dementors.

In another, Imelda Staunton, who plays Dolorees Umbridge, the latest teacher of the dark arts, stands in Hogwarts school wearing a pink tweed poncho. Maggie Smith, as Minerva McGonagall, clasps her arms round Emma Thompson, looking uncharacteristically frumpy as Sybil Trelawny.

David Bradley is also back as Argus Filch, the caretaker and bane of Harry's existence, in a role he has played since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 2001.

The images are the first officially sanctioned stills from the film, which is set for release next July. Their release comes just weeks after Warner Brothers executives fought to remove grainy home video from the internet showing Radcliffe and his co-stars Rupert Grint and Emma Watson filming a scene at King's Cross station in
London.