HOLLYWOOD heart-throb Christian Bale has dismissed claims that his school days in Bournemouth had been blighted by bullying.

Speaking at a press conference, just hours after the European premiere of Batman Begins in London's West End, the former grammar school boy said: I don't know where that came from.

"I don't draw on specific childhood experiences when creating a new character. But I don't know anyone who hasn't got some anger about specific episodes in their childhood."

Just three days before the fifth Batman movie opens in the UK, 31-year-old Bale, who plays the lead role, recalled: "I was kind of an odd kid.

"I liked to walk in the woods at night and not break into a run to toy with my own fears and make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I used to walk through dark alleyways.

"I've never been a fan of Batman and I wasn't really a fan of the other movies. But this film takes the story back to its origins. It's darker and more sinister than anything that has gone before and it's very impressive."

Bale and his wife, former model Sibi Blazic, live in LA. Born in North Wales, Bale was on TV and stage from the age of six, appearing opposite Rowan Atkinson in the West End hit The Nerd.

He shot to overnight stardom at the age of 13 in Steven Spielberg's wartime epic Empire of the Sun.

The father-of-one lived in countless different towns during his childhood, including a four-year stint in Bournemouth where his mother Jennifer still lives.

VERDICT IN BRIEF

Echo film critic Nick Churchill was duly impressed with the film. "It echoes Tim Burton's Gothic vision of Batman and his native Gotham City, but remembers the need for solid storytelling and believable acting.

"Batman Begins is possibly the first superhero movie in which the hero is as, if not more interesting, than the villain. Holy box office hit we want more.

"And we're not alone. When asked about the much vaunted sequel, Christian Bale side-stepped the usual Hollywood smokescreen and confirmed, for the first time, that the Caped Crusader will fly again and he'd be in the Batsuit."

Batman Begins is released in the UK on Thursday.