Daniel Craig's latest outing as suave secret agent James Bond has broken box office records to take £4.9 million in ticket sales on its opening day, Sony Pictures have said.

The film, Quantum of Solace, has shattered the previous record for a Friday opening held by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which took £4.025 million.

It means the 22nd Bond holds the record for the biggest box office take for a Friday opening in the UK cinema history.

The numbers that flocked to the latest Bond also dwarfed the box office figures for the opening day of its predecessor, Casino Royale.

That movie, Craig's first in the role of 007, took £2.9 million.

Hundreds gathered in London's Leicester Square for the premiere on Thursday.

Some had waited all day, also hoping to spot Princes William and Harry at their first Royal premiere.