SCHOOL kids are going potty for Harry Potter with the trainee wizard stam-ping his mark on classrooms across Gwent!

The black-haired, spectacle wearing creation from Chepstow educated JK Rowling continues to prove a magical draw for school pupils in Gwent who are desperate to get their hands on anything connected to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry pupil.

And high street stores told the Argus that children are even trying to copy the young wizard's wardrobe and starting the new term armed with an array of Harry Potter merchandise.

Harry, whose adventures have made JK Rowling, a former pupil of Tutshill Church of England junior school and Wyedean Comprehensive, one of the richest women in Britain, is soon to make his big screen debut in the Stephen Spielberg adaptation of his first adventure The Philosopher's Stone.

Shop assistant at the Cwmbran branch of WH Smith, Carol James, told the Argus that Harry Potter merchandise was in hot demand by youngsters going back to school.

"They are going Harry Potter mad. We have children in the store for story time sessions when there is a new Harry Potter book out and I think we will be very busy this Christmas with the release of the Harry Potter film."

Asked why children were queuing up to get their hands on the multitude of magical merchandise which includes books, games, playing cards, book ends, mugs, stationery, Ms James said: "We think it's because Harry Potter is exciting for the children and the stories stimulate their imagination...you never know what will happen next in the books."

The Newport branch of M & S has also seen its Harry Potter gear in popular demand with school children obsessed with the trainee wizard who fights of evil.

They included one of our Seven up children, Chris Beech, of Bideford Road, Newport, who turned nine last week.

He is seen with a the latest merchandise available thanks to M &S and as Gwent's very own Harry Potter, modelling an outfit supplied by National Schoolwear Centres in Sovereign Arcade, Kingsway Shopping Centre, Newport.

Asked what was so special about Harry Potter, Chris said: "I just like all his books and his adventures."

*PICTURED: Christopher Beach, aged nine, of Maesglas, Newport, as Harry Potter.