Pottermania shows no sign of abating in Wiltshire as thousands of people, young and old, queue to see the latest film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Tickets to see the films had sold out weeks in advance and more than 9,000 people went to see it in Swindon on Bank Holiday Monday alone.

Cineworld cinema manager Sarah Bradfield said: "We have had a pre-booking system up for about a month and tickets for the Bank Holiday Monday sold out very quickly.

"We are having 20 screenings a day, but the shows are still selling out. People coming out have been bowled over by it, they all say it is a really good film and a brilliant tribute to the book.

"We have had hundreds of children dressed up as Harry or other characters from the book, it has been really sweet to see."

The Palace Cinema in Devizes got the film on first release, a rare treat for fans in the town who would have had to travel to Swindon or Chippenham. But to be sure of getting a seat in the cinema, it meant getting there early.

The matinee performance on Tuesday was sold out and people were turned away as all 253 seats were full.

First in the queue was Helen Hook and her daughters Charlotte, ten, and Lucy, eight, of Seend Cleeve. She and her daughters started queuing at 1.20pm to be sure of seats for the 3pm showing.

Mrs Hook said: "We wanted to be sure we got into the cinema for the film as there's nothing worse than being stuck at the end of the queue and worrying that we will not get in. It's quite sad that we came as early as we did but we'd rather do that then miss out.

"When we went to see the first Harry Potter film at Chippenham we queued for two hours," said Charlotte.

Mrs Hook, 37, said if the Palace cinema had not been showing the film this week they would probably have gone to see it at Chippenham but were glad that the Palace had got the film on early release.

She said: "I like to support our local cinema. It's more exciting coming to the Palace than going to a multiplex because it has more atmosphere."

Helen Chapman and her sons, Chris, 16, Stephen, 11, and Oliver, six, of Devizes, together with friend Caz Rowles her sons, Tom, 12, and Glynn, 11, and friend, Harry, 11, of Market Lavington, started queuing an hour before the showing.

Mrs Chapman said: "We have read all the books and we saw the two other films at Devizes. Even if the film was not on this week at Devizes I would probably have waited until it was shown here but it's nice that it is being shown here at the same time as elsewhere."

Palace cinema cashier Avril Smith said: "We've been very busy and it's been fantastic, although it's a shame that we have had to turn people away when the cinema is full.

"We have had more children at the matinee performances and more adults for the evening showings. It's a film that appeals to both. We did well when we showed the other two Harry Potter films and the Lord of the Rings."

The Astoria cinema in Chippenham was equally busy. Youngsters started queuing at 10.30am on Monday for its first showing of the film at 1.45pm.

"We have been packed out and have had to turn people away," said manager Brenda Gingell.

The Brunel Centre in Swindon is marking the film's release by staging a Harry Potter fun day tomorrow from 11.30am, which includes a fancy dress competition.