IT WAS billed as the book release of the year - and Hampshire youngsters certainly played their part.

For three years devotees of Harry Potter have had to wait for the latest instalment in the adventures of the trainee wizard.

For a majority of those swept up in Pottermania it was far too long and they could hardly contain themselves as JK Rowling's fifth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, went on sale across the county.

Piles of the £16.99 766-page hardbacks evaporated from Hampshire stores at an incredible rate of two every minute.

Some shops were greeted with huge queues when they opened their doors at midnight on Friday as the book went on sale.

Others carried on the schoolboy wizardry theme throughout the weekend as a continual stream of Potter lovers waited for their latest fix of Harry and his school mates Ron and Hermione.

To celebrate the launch of the book Asda at Bournemouth Road, Chandler's Ford, organised Harry Potter lookalike - 18 year-old Graham Betteridge of Boyatt Wood, Eastleigh - to sign special book marks.

After buying their books youngsters could have their picture taken with the schoolboy wizard.

At October Books, in Portswood Road, Southampton, staff thrilled customers by dressing as characters from the story.

Jon De Salis, store manager of WH Smith in Southampton was pleased with how sales figures had been going for the book.

He said: "We opened at 8am on Saturday and by midday we had already sold over 400 copies. That's nearly two books a minute being sold.

"I think fans will be heading straight home to start reading it before anyone tells them what happens in it."

In a scene repeated in shops all over Hampshire youngsters who had managed to get hold of the book were desperate to start reading it as soon as it was in their hands.

Hermione Granger lookalike, ten-year-old Lydia Bloomfield, from Bitterne, Southampton, was eager to drag her mum home so she could start on her copy of the book.

Lydia said: "I am a really big fan, but I didn't start reading the books until I saw the first film.

"I had reserved my copy so got it straight away. I have read all the other books eight times.

"Harry is my favourite character but everyone says I look like Hermione.

"I have got all of my friends into the books too."

Rianna Holland, 14, from Basingstoke, intended to start reading her book as she walked around the shops with her mum.

She said: "I like the books because the characters feel real. Hermione is my favourite.

"I can't wait to for book six to be released."

Chloe Allsford from Sarisbury read the first four books in only a week after she had to read one for a school project.

Chloe, 17, said: "I got hooked straight away. I want to be a writer and I love JK Rowling's writing style.

"She has such a vivid imagination.

"Hermione is definitely my favourite character as she is geeky and no one understands her."

It isn't only the girls who are fans of Hermione, 14-year-old Adam Cressy is a big admirer too. He said: "I am going straight home to read the book.

"I have been very excited about this book coming out as I like the way it is written."