DIE HARD - SHREK FENDS OFF MCCLANE AT BOX OFFICE

Shrek the Third has retained the top spot at the UK box office after fending off the challenge of Die Hard 4.0, which has entered the chart at number two.

The third film in the ogre-caper saga has now spent two weeks at number one with total takings of £26 million.

It depicts the familiar characters from the previous two films trying to track down the character of Artie, voiced by Justin Timberlake.

Die Hard 4.0 took £5 million in its first weekend - slightly less than Shrek in its second weekend on the chart.

Bruce Willis resumes the role of John McClane, as the tough cop tackles a dangerous cyber criminal threatening to destroy the United States' IT infrastructure.

Also remaining in the chart is Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer which retained third place at the box office after four weeks in the top three.

Ocean's Thirteen is also continuing to attract cinemagoers and has now spent five weeks on the box-office chart, topped only by the seven-week stint of the third Pirates of the Caribbean film.

At World's End, the latest instalment in the Pirates trilogy, was criticised by critics but has proven to be highly popular with the public.

This Thursday sees the release of the latest Harry Potter film, The Order of the Phoenix, which is widely expected to go in at number one.