Meryl Streep tops UK box office with "Prada"

LONDON, Oct 11 (Reuters) Meryl Streep's new film ''The Devil Wears Prada'' went straight to the top of the UK box office on its opening weekend, according to Screen International.

The story of a naive young woman going to work for a ruthless magazine editor pipped another newcomer, ''The Departed'', to the top spot thanks to the inclusion of pre-weekend preview takings.

Prada was recorded as having taken 3.26 million pounds, against 2.29 million for director Martin Scorsese's star-studded mob saga, with Leonardo di Caprio and Jack Nicholson.

At third down from top was ''Click'', starring Adam Sandler, the story of a man whose life is taken over by a TV remote.

At fourth, down from second, was ''Hoodwinked'', an updated re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood, one place above ''World Trade Center'' which was down from third.

Helen Mirren's acclaimed portrayal of ''The Queen'' in the days following Princess Diana's death was down one at six while Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron's sci-fi drama ''Children of Men'' was seventh, down three places.

New at eight was teen comedy ''Accepted'', in which a group of high school students overcome the problem of failing to get any university offers by opening their own college.

Ninth, down from seventh after five weeks in the UK chart, was the beauty contest story of ''Little Miss Sunshine'' with car-racing movie ''Talladega Nights'' four places off at 10.

REUTERS DH RAI0440