Harry Potter orders flood the shops

The Harry Potter video is set to break records when it goes on sale next month.

Tens of thousands of people have already reserved copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with high street stores and some retailers saying they will open their doors at midnight to meet the demand.

Although the video of the boy wizard's adventures is not released until 11 May, experts believe it will be the biggest selling in Britain.

A spokeswoman for the British Video Association said demand was set to be "phenomenal". Tesco, which is taking orders online, received 2,800 calls about it last week and hope to sell it in their 24-hour stores from one minute past midnight on 11 May. They have taken more than 3,000 orders in London alone.

Tony Britten, from Tesco.com said: "This is a milestone in movie history and 11 May can't come quick enough for tens of thousands of people. This film is as popular with adults as it is with youngsters."

HMV said it had been inundated with calls. It is drawing up plans to open its Oxford Street store at midnight and hopes to organise Harry Potter themed activities for children. Woolworths also said it had taken thousands of orders and would open 30 stores at midnight.

The present best-selling video is the Jungle Book, which has sold almost five million copies. But Warner Home Video, which is coordinating the distribution of Harry Potter, think their film will pass the five million mark.

Harry Potter made its author, JK Rowling, a multi-millionaire. The film went on to break records when it opened in November and took more than £16 million in its first weekend.