Happy ending for bookshops as last Harry Potter heads for new sales records

LONDON (AFP) - The last book in the world-shaking Harry Potter series headed Sunday for new sales records as millions of readers across the globe rushed to find out the fate of the bespectacled boy wizard.

"Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows", the seventh volume in a decade-long magical saga, went on sale at 2301 GMT Saturday in most countries as author J.K. Rowling hosted an overnight reading for fans at a London museum.

In Britain, bookshop and supermarket chains stayed open all night Saturday to meet what they said was record demand. The same was true for Borders and other bookshops chains in US cities.

"The biggest day in Borders' history. We've never had a book like this," Borders USA chief executive officer George Jones told AFP.