EVEN the rain couldnt stop Darlington going Harry Potty last night!

Hundreds braved the weather to get their hands on the latest novel starring everyones favourite teenage magician, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when it went on sale at midnight.

First in the queue at a special opening of Waterstones on High Row was competition winner Joe Alexander, who could pass for a young Ronald Weasley.

The 12-year-old from Middlesbrough was the envy of his fellow Muggles when he took possession of JK Rowlings latest offering.

A clearly overwhelmed Joe left the speaking to his mother, Karen.

"I have read every single word of the books out loud to the children since the first one came out," she said. "I loved the plot. They are the kind of books we can all read together."

Joe said he doubted he would get to the end of the book last night.

"I will though," said his mother.

Gemma Lyne, 17, a Polam Hall student from Darlington, had queued in the rain since the early evening to be first in the official queue.

Joined by her friend, Grace Beevers, 17, she said nothing would have prevented her getting her hands on the new book at the earliest opportunity.

"We have been planning this for two years since Half-Blood Prince came out," she said. "We just thought its the last book, we might as well do something a bit crazy."

Gemma said she wouldnt be putting the book down until she reached the final page.

"I plan to read, read and read," she said. "I am going to go home, have cups of tea and Lucozade and just read until I finish it."

Nothing else compares to Harry, according to Gemma.

"They are so different to other books," she said. "I know people say that the themes are generic, but theres so much more to them; intricate bits and in-jokes.

"I was ten when they first came out, but they get better as you get older. You notice little details that you wouldnt have picked up on when you were younger. I have read all of them about six or seven times."

While excited about the book, the fact that it is the final in the series brings with it a bit of sadness for Gemma.

"I am going to read it and then just cry," she said. "But theres still the film."

And for those people who think those who are fixated with the young magician are a little sad, Gemma had this message: "There are worse things I could be interested in than Harry Potter," she said.