Harry Potter hysteria at Harrods as DVD box set casts spell over shoppers

Gringotts-style security was needed at Harrods today when 300 limited edition Elder Wand box sets arrived at the department store.

Muggles are so desperate to get their hands on the sets, which include a copy of Dumbledore's wand and DVDs of all eight Harry Potter films, that they were placed in the Harrods Safe Deposit underneath the famous store. Dating from 1896, the Safe Deposit is almost as impenetrable as the goblin bank.

The £199 box sets are exclusive to Harrods and go on sale on Friday to coincide with the release of the final film in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, on BluRay and DVD. Members of the cast will be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs on Thursday.

To mark the occasion, Harrods has transformed its third floor into a real-life Diagon Alley complete with original props and costumes from the films, including Hogwarts school uniforms, Hermione's dresses and the sword of Gryffindor.