A WIZARD of woodwork helped to bring a little magic to the red carpet at the premiere of a Harry Potter movie.

Draughtsman Mark Hine designed and built a desk and chair which were used to create a scene from Hogwarts.

The exhibit – on the back of a trailer – was wheeled into Leicester Square as the stars arrived for the first showing of the adaptation of J K Rowling's book Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince.

It was then placed on an articulated lorry to transport it to other Harry Potter events across the country and further afield.

Mr Hine, a former Leek High student, said: "The desk and chair were part of a whole scene.

"It was like a mini museum themed to look like something out of Hogwarts.

"The trailer was decked out in timber and painted to look like a castle and people were allowed to enter and take a look."

Mr Hine admitted he was not a fan of the books.

He said: "I think I'm in the minority but I haven't read any of them. I don't really read about witches and wizards.

"I only found out about what the desk and chair should look like by examining the actual design drawings that were used in the films.

"It took about four to five days to complete from getting the initial design to the drawing board and getting all the measurements right and programming it to be cut out using A Computer Numeric Control machine instead of by hand."

Mr Hine, who worked for a London-based theatre and movie set design company for six years, also helped build a rocket for the premiere of Thunderbirds at London's Trafalgar Square in 2004.

He said: "It was my job as part of a team to turn any ideas or concepts in the form of either a drawing or model, into a real and working model."

Mr Hine, from Rudyard, left his position last December and has now returned to his home county.

The 34-year-old decided to bring the Harry Potter desk and chair, from the July 2009 premiere, with him to place at a school to help trigger children's imaginations.

He said: "Once the tour was complete I knew the pieces would go back into a workshop or into storage so I managed to save them so they could be used in schools. The children seem to enjoy them."

Mr Hine's first job in design was for IAE, in Macclesfield Road, Leek.

He is now a freelance draughtsman but has maintained links with his former employers.

Mr Hine, who is married to 30-year-old Jenny, said: "I enjoyed the city life but we wanted to come back and buy a bigger house and be near to our families for when we decide to start our own.

"It was a difficult decision because I loved the job."