It was “business as usual” on the set of the final Harry Potter movie today, following a fire that destroyed an outside set.

The second unit was filming an exterior courtyard scene on Friday evening, as part of a battle sequence that will appear in part two of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

But at about 9pm, a small fire broke out on the isolated set at Leavesden Studios.

No principal cast members were present, no equipment was damaged and no one was injured, Warner Bros. said this morning (Monday).

A representative of the Harry Potter production said: “It was a big special effects scene. Unfortunately, there was a small fire as a result of that. As a precaution, as we had already mobilised our own in-house fire team who had it under control, the fire brigade was called and it was put out in under an hour.

“There was no damage to Leavesden Studios at all. The actual set was due to be rebuilt anyway. The scene was where the set was being destroyed and then it was to be rebuilt for a new scene, as part of a battle for Deathly Hallows part two.

“The idea that fire ripped through Leavesden Studios is so far from the truth, it's untrue. It was a very isolated incident. It was put out very quickly and with limited damage.”