Harry Potter mania hit town as the wizard created by writer JK Rowling came to Sussex.

Almost 1,000 fans of the author queued the length of Churchill Square in Brighton last night to get her signature on their treasured hardback copies of her latest book, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.

Some dressed as wizards as they formed an eager queue outside Borders bookshop.

Joanne Rowling, who is known as JK, is now said to be one of the richest women in the country in the country.

The blonde 34-year-old is the fastest selling author of the moment and certainly has plenty of fans in Sussex, who have read and re-read her books about the adventures of Harry Potter, an orphan who attends a school for wizards.

Only 400 tickets were issued for the two-hour book signing inside the store, but many brought their parents and friends along.

To qualify for a ticket you had to have been one of the first people to buy the book when it went on sale in Borders at £11.99 two weeks ago.

Diehard The same diehard fans who queued for the first copies of the book were first in the queue to get the coveted JK Rowling signature.

The author, dressed in a pink dress with matching earrings and coloured wrist bands, was ushered to a desk near the Borders Cafe by her female minders.

The first children to get her signature were brothers Stephen and Liam Hanmer, aged nine and six, from Hollingbury in Brighton, who had spent an hour queuing outside with their father, Philip.

Stephen said: "All her books are very good."

His father said: "I just can't stop them reading the books.

"It is good to see them enjoying reading and I am grateful to Miss Rowling for that."

Andrew Gray, ten, of Elizabeth Avenue, Hove, was so excited he had managed to get JK Rowling's signature on his book and was able to shake her hand he pledged he would never wash his hand again.

When he told her he had read every word of her books she said: "Well done."

He auditioned for the part of Harry Potter in the film to be made later this year and is still hoping for a small role.

But children were not the only fans who queued up to see Miss Rowling.

The first people in the queue were sister and brother Karen and Adam Watson, from Brighton, aged 23 and 17.

They were so keen to get their hands on the book, they got up at 5am two weeks ago to make sure they got the first copies of Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire when it came on sale.