Potter weighing on postmen
2003-06-16 13:59
London - Britain's Royal Mail is to make extra vans available to deliver half a million copies of the new Harry Potter novel next weekend, amid fears that the newest tome of the popular series could weigh heavily on the country's postmen.
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", the latest edition of a massively popular series, is to be published on Saturday and weighs in at a hefty one kilogramme.
Given that safety regulations allow British postmen to carry a maximum of 16 kilograms, officials are making plans to make sure every book reaches its destination without postal workers suffering damage to their backs.
A spokesperson for the Royal Mail said: "Because the book is very large and heavy, we are making contingency plans so that deliveries can be made using vans.
"We have plans in place to ensure a successful delivery and to avoid disappointment."
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", the fifth book in the series, is 768 pages long.
It recounts the magical exploits of Harry and his wizard school friends and his struggle against evil Lord Valdemort.
The books have made British author Joanne Kathleen Rowling a multi-millionaire.
Given the size of the latest novel, it may not fit through all letter boxes so anyone expecting a copy has been urged by the Royal Mail to stay at home on Saturday until it arrives.
The spokesperson said: "Otherwise they will get a note asking them to go and collect it at their local Royal Mail office."
But in that event, they will not be able to get their hands on the sought-after novel until Monday.
- Sapa-AFP
- SAPA