BOOKSHOPS and 24-hour superstores across Merseyside are bracing themselves for thousands of eager purchasers desperate to get their hands on the new Harry Potter book when it is published at the stroke of midnight.
Unprecedented security arrangements are being made to prevent the sixth instalment of the boy wizard's adventures being leaked before it officially goes on sale at 12.01am tomorrow.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was finally delivered to stores in sealed boxes yesterday morning, with strict instructions that they should not be opened until the embargo is lifted.
The WH Smith store in Church Street - which has received thousands of copies of the JK Rowling book in four pallets - is opening its doors at 9pm tonight for a magician to entertain the crowds until the book can legally be sold.
Store manager Peter Smith said: "We are under very strict instructions that none of the boxes should be opened till midnight. When the customer sees it, it will be the first time we've seen it.
"We are looking at it being the biggest book launch of the year, with more pre-orders than there has been for any other product in the company's history. Everyone is very excited about it."
It is the same story at Tesco, which is beefing up security and increasing staff numbers to prepare for the queues of fans which are expected to start forming from the early evening when it goes on sale at its Prescot, Allerton Road and Southport 24-hour stores.
The retailer is expecting to sell around 300 copies a minute when the book goes on sale.
