CINEMAS and bookshops are preparing for magical mayhem in Worcester when Harry Potter spellbinds thousands of fans with his latest film, released on Bank Holiday Monday.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is expected to be an even bigger box office success than the teenage wizard's earlier antics and the Faithful City is ready for the rush.

The Odeon cinema, in Foregate Street, is showing the film on two screens - only done for blockbusters - and has taken bookings for all its first-day showings, though is not sold out.

"It is starting slowly and building up," said duty manager Dawn Stanley.

"A lot of people have been phoning up and enquiring about it and I think we will notice a great deal more excitement over the weekend.

Ottakars bookshop, in The Shambles, is also preparing for the launch.

There has been a bit of a change but it will really take off once we have all the associated toys and games out this weekend, said Maz Loton, manager of the children's section of the store.

We are ready for the rush over the Bank Holiday weekend and a lot of people have been asking after the new book, which is out in a couple of months."

We are very excited.