We'll fall under Harry's spell

Booksellers are gearing up for the biggest-ever outbreak of Harry Potter mania when JK Rowling's sixth book is released next month.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is expected to smash the record of 1.7million copies sold on a first day - set by its predecessor, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

WH Smith will open 390 stores at midnight on July 16 to cope with demand from fans desperate to get their hands on the latest adventure of the boy wizard, played on film by Daniel Radcliffe.

Waterstones is planning midnight events at 130 stores, while Ottakar's is opening all 136 branches - and rebranding itself Pottakar's for the whole of the launch week.

The publishing event of the year has caused an intense price war.

Online bookstore Amazon and Tesco are offering the book for £9.99 - a 41 per cent discount on its £16.99 cover price - to customers who order in advance. WH Smith also has a £9.99 pre-order price at its high street stores, and is giving customers vouchers worth up to £75.

Woolworths have cut the cost of pre-ordered copies to £8.99, while Asda is selling the book for £8.96.

The big discounts have helped fuel demand - Amazon is reported to have taken more than 200,000 preorders in the UK and another 580,000 in America. But there are also complaints that independent bookshops are being squeezed out of the year's biggest money-spinner.

Joel Rickett, deputy editor of Bookseller magazine, said: 'There is no way they can compete with the supermarkets' huge discounts.

'That's a real blow, and a shame because they supported Harry when he was unknown and helped make him what he is.'

Retailers 'gave away' £11million in discounts when Order of the Phoenix was published in 2003.

It sold 1.7million copies in 24 hours - the equivalent of 21 every second - making it easily the fastest-selling book in history.