WHERE will you be at the witching hour on July 15? Will you be having a wizard time and lining up in Newport for the chance to grab the most spellbinding read of the year?

As publication day for the latest Harry Potter adventure approaches, wizard mania is growing.

There are more than a million advance orders worldwide for the sixth in the magical series from Chepstow-educated JK Rowling.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits the shops on Saturday, July 16.

Ottakar's in Commercial Street, Newport, will open at 11.45pm on Friday, July 15, ready to begin selling the book at one minute past midnight.

Manager Louise Hartwell said hundreds of people had already reserved their copies of the long-awaited book.

She said Harry Potter fever had definitely not cooled down: "It doesn't show any signs of falling off. In fact, since the films were released it seems to have accelerated. Even young children are hooked because of the films."

Ms Hartwell said:."I can't wait to see the children running in, all excited."

She said that when the fifth in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, was published there were some amazing scenes in the store.

"Children couldn't wait to start reading it and began in the shop. One boy was here all day and just read it from cover to cover."

Anyone wanting to get a copy as soon as they possibly can should pick up a golden ticket from Ottakar's so they can join the midnight party.

Staff will dress up on the night and there will be a midnight feast, fun, games and prizes.

The shop will open at 8.30am the next day for a Harry Potter breakfast and fancy dress competition.

Limited edition gift bags will also be given to the first lucky customers to buy the book, while the first to collect pre-ordered copies will receive a free copy of the exclusive book Bringing Up Baby Dragons.

* Watch out next week for an exciting Ottakar's/ South Wales Argus competition with a wizard prize. Ottakar's also has a Harry Potter website - www.pottakar's.co.uk - and is running its own competition to win a chance to meet JK Rowling at Edinburgh Castle.