HARRY Potter lovers travelled from near and far to take part in the East Lancashire Railway’s Wizard Academy today.

Clad in their finest wizarding attire, fans both young and old enjoyed a day of Harry Potter-themed fun at Bury’s Bolton Street Station.

With wands at hand, 360 people packed into the ELR’s ‘Wizard Express’ across two two-hour return journeys between Bury and Rawtenstall as they battled to retrieve a stolen sorting hat from sinister sorcerers.

Visitors, many of whom were children enjoying their half term break, enjoyed performances from an array of wizarding characters before the first steam train departed from platform 3/4 at 10.45am.

Along the way, visitors were given activity books to learn the skills needed to defeat the evil wand-bearers.

As the train pulled in to Ramsbottom station, the wizards were asked to disembark in order to fend off some demons.

The train then continued on its way north towards Rawtenstall in order to find the sorting hat before returning to Bury in the early afternoon.

A second trip of visitors set out at 2.30pm.

It is the second year in a row that a Wizard Academy has been held at the railway.

After the success of last year’s event, the railway are hosting events across a number of dates this year.

However, tickets for all dates have already sold out.

Kate Walker, marketing manager at ELR, said : “It’s amazing. People seem to love wizards.

“You can see the enthusiasm people have for it. I’m sure it is something that will long continue.

“It’s not just for kids. We’ve got parties of teenagers and adults too.”

The Wizard Academy event will also take place on April 5, May 31, July 26, August 16 and 30 and October 25.