Harry Potter's latest adventure sells 3 million copies in its first day

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As bookstores nationwide opened to hordes of frenzied fans at midnight on Friday, publisher Bloomsbury estimated a record-breaking three million copies would be sold in the first 24 hours.

Waterstone's said there were more than 250,000 Potter addicts at its doors at midnight.

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Author J.K Rowling and Potter fans at the Natural History Museum in London

A young fan gets into Harry's latest adventure

A special Potter launch at the book chain's flagship store in Piccadilly, London, attracted 7,000 Muggles dressed as wizards and witches.

W.H. Smith reported record sales averaging 15 books a second in its 400 stores - trumping the novel's predecessor Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, which set its own record of 13 books per second in 2005.

Even supermarkets cashed in on Potter mania. Budget chain Asda, selling the book for £5 instead of the recommended retail price of £17.99, said it sold half its stock overnight.

While Potter launches continued across the UK, around 100 people gathered outside the Natural History Museum in London hoping for a glimpse of author

J.K. Rowling who gave a midnight reading to the winners of an internet competition.

Here are some experts who give their own verdict on the book...