SHOPPERS could have mistaken some Bolton shops for the mythical setting of Hogwarts School as Harry Potter mania gripped town.

The launch of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on video and DVD yesterday saw Potter fans clambering over each other to be one of the first to get their hands on a copy.

More than half-a-million copies were ordered nationwide in advance.

Sales are expected to break all records after the first in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, sold 1.25 million copies on its first day.

The Chamber of Secrets took £53m at the UK box office and recorded the most successful opening weekend in UK cinema history.

And, with the launch of the video and DVDs, Bolton shops were determined not to miss out on Potter fever. Woolworths, on Deansgate, held a Harry Potter day to launch the video.

Staff dressed up in school uniform giving out balloons and an owl posing as Hedwig was visiting the store today.

Manager Paul Box said: "It is a really busy weekend.

"There were a few people outside yesterday when we opened.

"We ordered more than a thousand copies on video and DVD and are getting new stock every day.

"I expect we will have sold more than a thousand copies by the end of the weekend."

Fans were also queuing up at Asda in Astley Bridge before the store opened at 8.30am on Friday.

The store bought thousands of videos and DVDs in because of demand and hundreds were sold in the first day.

Manager David Gaffin was dressed up as Harry Potter for the day.

He said: "All the staff have joined in the fun by dressing up as magicians and witches. People were waiting outside the store before we opened and it is proving to be very popular."