Harry Potter book is released

Updated 10.08 Wed Jul 25 2007

Keywords: jk rowling, harry potter

Thousands of Harry Potter fans have finally got their hands on copies of the seventh and final book in the series.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows went on sale at midnight in Britain and it was released simultaneuosly around the world.

"The kids are going to love it but there are sad moments in it" - Anne Jones

More than 1,000 fans queued at the Waterstones' bookshop in the centre of London, where many were dressed as wizards and there were magicians, face painters and characters from the books to keep them entertained while they waited.

Another 1,000 waited at Asda's superstore in Pudsey, near Leeds.

One of the first to read the book was speed reader Anne Jones, 55, who read more than 199,900 words, on 607 pages, in 47 minutes and one second.

It is believed she has set a new world record by reading 4251 words per minute then giving a synopsis of the book to prove she had read it all. That means she read 70 words every second.

The previous record was 3,850 words per minute, set 15 years ago by Sean Adam.

Mrs Jones said: "I'm really pleased. I didn't think it was possible.

"I'm an avid Harry Potter fan. I don't think I could have done it with another book. It's a real page-turner, great fun.

"The kids are going to love it but there are sad moments in it."

Mrs Jones, who learned speed-reading while teaching in Leicester, has been world speed-reading champion six times.

Waterstones' spokeswoman Claudia Mody said 280 of its UK stores opened at midnight and the company is expecting to sell three million copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in the first 24 hours.