HARRY POTTER has cast a spell over young readers after topping a poll to find the nation's favourite ­children's book.

Edinburgh-based author JK Rowling's first adventure, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, received the most votes in the survey by reading ­charity Booktrust.

Some 24,000 book fans were asked to pick their favourite children's tale from a list of 100 titles, with JK Rowling's worldwide best-seller gaining more than 2280 votes.

Sci-fi adventure The Hunger Games finished second - with 1193 votes -followed by Roald Dahl's The BFG and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which topped a poll for readers aged five and under.

Claire Shanahan, Booktrust's head of arts, said: "Kids and adults alike clearly can't get enough of Harry Potter. It's a worldwide phenomenon."