Batmobile leads stars on red carpet

Record-breaking film The Dark Knight had its European premiere as huge flames leapt into the air and a giant batmobile raced down the red carpet to cheers from fans.

The movie is the follow-up to the action hit Batman Begins and calls for a posthumous Oscar nomination for the late Heath Ledger are continuing.

The film has taken a US box office record of 55.34 million dollars (£77.7 million) in its opening weekend.

Christian Bale returns as brooding Batman and his alter ego Bruce Wayne is the Dark Knight.

Brokeback Mountain star Ledger plays his arch-villain The Joker, who is terrifying the residents of Gotham, while Sir Michael Caine plays faithful butler, Alfred.

When the film premiered in New York, Sir Michael told reporters he would be "very surprised" if Ledger did not win an Oscar for playing "one of the greatest villains I have ever seen".

Speaking at a press conference about the possibility of Ledger winning an Oscar, Sir Michael said he would "pay good money" to see the part that won it over him.

Christian Bale said: "He did an incredible job with The Joker ... I enjoyed watching him perform."

Maggie Gyllenhaal, who plays Rachel Dawes in the film, said the "degree of difficulty should be incorporated into the award".

The premiere in London's Leicester Square saw stars of the film led up the carpet by a 2.5 tonne six-wheeled batmobile which recently featured at the Grand Prix at Silverstone.