Hundreds queue to get the new Harry Potter book.

"THE hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square house of Privet Drive."

These are the words thousands of York people have been desperately waiting to read - the opening sentence of JK Rowling's fifth Harry Potter book.

Hundreds of young and old fans - many in fancy dress - patiently queued to buy copies of Harry Potter And The Order of The Phoenix at today's special midnight openings at Borders and Waterstones book shops in York city centre.

At Borders, the queue stretched right through the shop and out into the street, and young fans screamed at one minute past midnight as their agonising wait was officially over.

The store's first copy was given to Guy Donaldson as a magical treat to celebrate his 12th birthday. He had come all the way from Derbyshire with his parents,David and Bridget and sisters, Sasha and Clemmie, to be first in the queue.

"I've read all the books about six times," he said. "I'll get through a few pages tonight before I go to sleep."

Opinion was divided among the crowds about which character gets killed off in the new book.

Some said Hagrid, while others predicted it is Albus Dumbledore or one of the Weasley family.

Potter fanatic Rachael Taylor, a pupil at All Saints' School, can recite the entire first page of the first book.

"I'm hoping to read all of it tonight," she said. "It's magical."

Louise Robson, 23, donned a Harry Potter costume, complete with round glasses, Hogwarts scarf and wand. "I'm at work today, but I will read the first three chapters tonight and some more on my lunch-break," she said.

Borders general manager Andy Danson said: "There has been a lot of anticipation. Everyone keeps asking me who dies but I can't help them."

Brownies donned witches costumes and listened to passages of Harry Potter books being read out at a special sleep-over at WH Smith's at Monks Cross Retail Park, York, which also had a midnight opening.

Special events and opening times are planned across York today.

Great wizard Albus Dumbledore was dropping in to Asda York today and tomorrow to cast spells on Harry Potter fans. Attractions include face-painting, a bouncy castle and a barbecue.

Bookends at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet opened earlier than usual at 9.30am.

Pre-order sales of the Order Of The Phoenix are already six times those of the previous book.

At a whopping 870 pages, it is by far the longest of the series.

Harry's world now extends far past the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, all the way to London. He comes in contact with people who aren't just the fellow students and teachers and has to start thinking about the future, about what profession he'd like to take up after finishing school.

The book opens about a month after Harry's escape from the evil Lord Voldemort.

Updated: 09:40 Saturday, June 21, 2003