Bookstore Waterstone's has set up the Save Harry campaign in a bid to persuade author JK Rowling to continue writing her tales of the boy wizard beyond the scheduled final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

According to a recent survey, commissioned by the national chain, 63% of Northern Ireland fans said they wanted JK Rowling to pen another book about the boy wizard's adventures.

The same majority also said they did not want Harry to die in the final book - a possibility which has been highly anticipated.

To help with the campaign limited edition Save Harry badges are being given away at Waterstone's Fountain Street branch in Belfast and at 20 other selected Waterstone's around the UK and Ireland.

Save Harry T-shirts have been sent to die-hard Harry Potter fans and booksellers across the country.

Waterstone's has said it expects people from all over the world to sign the petition.

"Harry Potter is a global phenomenon, not just one in the UK and America, so aiming for a million signatures may prove to be conservative.

"Who knows how many people will sign up, they love Harry so much," Wayne Winstone, children's category manager at the book chain, said.

The petition, at www.waterstones.com/saveharry , asks fans to put their name to the statement: "We, the undersigned, petition JK Rowling to write more new adventures for Harry Potter and his friends no matter what happens at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

So far thousands of fans have already signed the petition since it was launched at midnight on Monday.

Waterstone's has said that once the petition reaches a million names it will be presented to Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury, to forward to JK Rowling herself.

"We will respect whatever she decides to do, but as Harry Potter fans ourselves, and knowing what great things her books have done for literacy, children's writing and books as a whole across the planet, we felt we had to make one last push to save Harry," Mr Winstone said.