EAGER Harry Potter fans created some "Christmas excitement" in Taunton town centre late on Friday night.

Bookstores opened at one minute past midnight so fans could get Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as soon as legally possible.

All the pre-publicity meant record queues waited outside many of the stores as the countdown to the launch entered its final stages.

At Brendon Books in Bath Place, readers queued out of the door and at WHSmith there were up to 400 fans lined up down the street.

Brendon Books owner Lionel Ward said: "It was brilliant. There was constant demand for about 40 minutes after midnight and it was very exciting.

"The shop was full and the atmosphere was like Christmas." WHSmith manager Alan Cooper said: "Orchard FM came as part of their competition and the queue was certainly a record for a midnight opening.

"It was a good fun day and staff and customers enjoyed themselves."

Before the grand opening, staff at WHSmith entertained waiting readers with Harry Potter general knowledge questions, complete with spot prizes.

Inside the store there were also Harry Potter cakes, sweets, and drinks.

Last week the County Gazette gave readers the chance to win one of five copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix thanks to supermarket giant Safeway.

Entries to the competition must be submitted to the County Gazette on the form in last week's paper by Friday, June 28 at noon.