Titanic, The Movie will be launched on video at the weekend - and sales are already predicted to go down a treat.

Video stores across the county have been swamped with advance requests for copies of the blockbuster film.

And many are planning special midnight openings the moment the video officially goes on sale at midnight on Sunday.

Staff at Malton's Choices Video are expecting a flood of fans. The store has ordered a staggering 178 Titanic tapes for sale, five wide screen films, two boxed sets and a further 110 videos for rental.

Manager Debbie Morris will be among those staying up to serve customers: "We are only a small store yet customers have been asking for it for months.

"I know some are coming in especially at midnight to collect their copy even though they have already ordered it.

"The Full Monty went down really well, but the Titanic will go down even better."

Choices, in Gowthorpe, Selby, will re-open at midnight on Sunday so that their customers can join other night owls across the country in being among the first to watch the Titanic video.

Manager Tanya Jennery said they had already pre-sold 110 videos, and would have a further 100-plus on their shelves for sale and rental.

At the Blockbuster store, also in Gowthorpe, management has decided not to go for the midnight opening option, but to open two hours earlier on Monday morning at 8am.

Meanwhile, in York, Choices Video, Haxby, will be open from midnight.

It has stocked up with 130 films for renting and 300 for outright sales, and is expecting to order more.

After dealing with night-time customers, staff will snatch a few hours sleep before opening up again extra early at 9am to ensure as many people as possible can get the video as quickly as possible.

Manager Lee Thurston said: "The marketing company are expecting big things of it and it is going to happen.

"We will sell out in the first two days."

HMV's store in Coney Street, York, and Woolworth in Spurriergate, York, will also be opening specially.

Woolworths is offering an "exclusive limited-edition poster for the first customers instore at midnight to buy the video."

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