RECORDS were smashed in Salisbury when a signed first edition of Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone was sold for £13,000.

It was the highest price ever paid at auction for a first edition of JK Rowling's hugely popular children's book, which was published only four years ago.

The volume, which had been expected to fetch £8,000-£10,000, was knocked down to an anonymous bidder at Woolley & Wallis's antique books and prints sale on Wednesday of last week, just two days before the Harry Potter film went on general release. The buyer was a private collector who lives in Surrey.

The fine art saleroom's books specialist, Bill Hoade, said he was "ecstatic" at the price the book had fetched, although not totally surprised.