ONLY days earlier it had been the battle of the dresses as Julia Roberts and Hampshire's Liz Hurley had turned out in London for the premiere of the new British movie Notting Hill.

But last night it was Southampton's turn as the Odeon hosted the first regional premiere of the movie especially for Daily Echo readers.

There was no sign of Julia Roberts, who was photographed at the London event with unshaved armpits, or Hugh Grant and girlfriend Liz Hurley. Basingstoke beauty Liz didn't appear in the movie but made a big impact with a revealing dress at the London bash.

The movie's producer Duncan Kenworthy told a packed auditorium of hundreds of Daily Echo readers: "I'm sorry that the star of the London premiere couldn't be here. Liz Hurley's dress couldn't make an appearance here. Hugh mistook it for a postage stamp and it's somewhere in the postal service!"

He spoke of the coverage of the battle of the dresses in the media and added: "We've got some members of Southampton football team here - I hope you've shaved your armpits!"

But two stars of the movie did attend the event. Emma Chambers, who plays Hugh Grant's sister in the movie arrived with her husband Ian Dunn, mum Noelle Chambers and friends. The actress known to TV fans for her role in The Vicar of Dibley, has a cottage in Lymington and often visits the area. Her mum lives in Minstead.

She settled down to watch the film for about her fifth view-ing but said: "It's exciting to be here - it's especially nice for my mum."

There was no Hugh Grant, but there was Hugh Bonneville who also stars in the film. Esther Rantzen, who has a home in the New Forest also attended the bash, although her husband Desmond Wilcox was in London working. Esther told how they have resched-uled plans to renew their wedding vows on May 20 - the day before Desmond's birthday. They had to post-pone their original plans after Desmond suffered heart problems. They plan to spend their honey-moon in the New Forest - although it will only be for three days. But at least that's one day more than their first honeymoon after they married in 1977.

Other celebrities at the event included Saints players and Hampshire's athletics golden boy Iwan Thomas with athlete girlfriend Emma Davies who had attend-ed Southampton University.

Notting Hill stars Hugh Grant as a book-shop owner who falls for the most famous film star in the world portrayed by Julia Roberts and will be released on May 28. The film unites Hugh Grant with writer Richard Curtis and producer Duncan Kenworthy from Four Weddings and a Funeral.

There are bound to be comparisons made between the two films, but Duncan Kenworthy said: "Notting Hill is a very different sort of film. I think it's a more mature film. It's just as funny as Four Weddings - but much more romantic. With Notting Hill people come out with a lump in their throat.

"It's nice to go and see a film where you will laugh but also there are some touching moments."

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