Harry Potter finally gets his hands on an award - at the Baftas

Only days after complaining of being repeatedly passed over for an Oscar, the Harry Potter cast finally has something to celebrate.

Today it was announced that the film series will receive the award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema at this year's Baftas.

Stars Rupert Grint and Richard Griffiths told the Standard this week that the cast had all but given up on an Oscar after being snubbed in the major categories yet again this year.

Now Grint and co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson are looking forward to receiving the honour at the Baftas later this month.

Radcliffe, who plays Harry, said he was thrilled today. "To me the real heroes are the crew and the huge team of craftsmen who have made all eight of the films possible. This award is a testament to their incredible work."

Watson said: "This is a huge honour. I am so proud to have been part of the incredible team both in front and behind the camera."

Grint said: "We have spent half our lives making these films and are so proud of the pleasure they have given the fans and the contribution they have made to British cinema." Despite being the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time, earning £3.9 billion at the box office, the seven films have so far failed to win an honour in the coveted acting, directing or best film categories at both the Oscars and the Baftas.

Nominated for nine Oscars in technical categories, the films have not won once, and have scooped only one Bafta despite 23 nominations - best production design for Goblet Of Fire.

Creator JK Rowling and producer David Heyman will collect the award at the Royal Opera House on February 13. The final film, Deathly Hallows Part 2, is due for release this year. Finola Dwyer, Bafta film committee chairwoman, said it was "fitting" to honour the franchise "as this great British film success story draws to a close".