Police snatch Pitt from fans

Fright club: Police move in to get Brad inside

Movie heart-throb Brad Pitt was spoken to by police after fears of a crowd crush at the UK premiere of his new film, Snatch.

The Hollywood superstar was ordered inside the Odeon cinema in London's Leicester Square after being mobbed by adoring fans.

Police said some spectators were pinned against metal barriers, but refused to confirm reports that they had threatened to arrest Pitt if he didn't cut short his walkabout.

Vinnie Jones arrives at the premiere of Snatch with his wife Tanya

The actor arrived in a chauffeur-driven car with Snatch writer and director Guy Ritchie and was besieged as the pair stopped to sign autographs.

British stars Vinnie Jones, Goldie and Mike Reid, who co-star with Pitt in the gangster flick, also received a warm reception from the crowd.

Other guests at the star-studded premiere included Oasis' Noel Gallagher, Spice Girl Mel C, former Big Breakfast host Kelly Brook and Big Brother's "Nasty" Nick Bateman.

A police spokeswoman said there was a big surge when the huge crowd spotted Pitt.

"Our people spoke to one of the stars to ease the problem which had occurred," she explained.

"Our policy for the event was public safety, as it always is on occasions like this.

Proud: EastEnders star Mike Reid with his wife

"There was plenty of room within the penned off area but some moved or surged forward.

Crushed

"People were getting crushed. As a result the officer spoke to a star about the situation."

Some newspapers reported Chief Inspector John Morgan had told Pitt he would arrest him if he did not move inside the cinema.

The actor, who recently married Friends star Jennifer Aniston, plays an Irish, bare-knuckle fighting gypsy in Snatch.

The film tells the tale of a group of small-time London East End villains who get involved in a diamond heist that goes wrong.

He explained he had taken a low-paid role in a small-budget movie "just because I liked the story".

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Reid, best known for his role as Frank Butcher in BBC soap EastEnders, said he felt privileged to have worked with the star of Seven and Fight Club.

"The nice thing is he's nice. He was a nice, easy-going polite man."

Reid claimed Pitt had managed to get round the problem of doing an authentic Irish accent by "mumbling", but added: "He's a great actor and I'm proud to be associated with him."