The magic of Harry Potter has already taken Swindon bookshops by storm three weeks ahead of its launch date.

The fifth book in JK Rowling's wizardry series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is scheduled to hit shelves on Saturday, June 21.

But already more than 2,000 copies have been reserved from stores across the town.

Swindon's new bookshop, Borders, at The Orbital Shopping Park, Thames-down Drive, will celebrate the launch with an all-night party.

Angela Lockton, events and marketing manager, said: "There is a lot planned for the book launch, including a fancy dress, quizzes and a magic story time.

"We will open right through the night with a countdown to midnight."

Magicians and their owls will entertain shoppers at the Saturday launch at Borders, which opened two weeks ago. Waterstones bookstore in the Brunel Plaza is also gearing up for a spellbinding weekend, complete with wizards and face painters. Store manager Keeley Wilby said that 600 orders had already been placed, which was expected to increase along with the hype over the next couple of weeks.

"We will have enough books in store to cover the requirements and will open at midnight on the Friday for as long as our customers need," she said.

The company's Regent Street store is also compiling an ever-increasing list of Harry Potter fans, with more than 200 reservations so far.

Jayne Read, WH Smith's assistant manager, said that the Regent Street store had received almost 1,000 orders.

"Excitement is definitely mounting and we will have a midnight opening on the launch date," she said.

Meanwhile Swindon libraries are clearing room on their shelves to make way for 47 copies of the new book and according to librarians, reservations are coming in thick and fast.

Rachel Douglass, librarian at Swindon Central, said: "It's one of the biggest orders we have ever put in for a new book.

"I think the popularity is because of the Harry Potter films."

The books, which will be in Swindon libraries within a week of publication, can be reserved by calling local library branches.

It costs 75p to reserve on an adult membership, but is free for children.

The previous Harry Potter books have sold 200m copies in 55 languages, earning Ms Rowling an estimated £280m.

The price of the latest book has not yet been decided.

Call Borders on Swindon 702200, WH Smith on Swin-don 531342 and Waterstones on Swindon 436465 to reserve a copy.

Swindon library can be contacted on 463238.

www.harrypotter.warnerbros.co.uk