HARRY POTTER - NEXT HARRY POTTER BOOK COMPLETED

HARRY POTTER author JK ROWLING has completed the sixth novel in the fantasy series.

The English writer had planned to announce details on Christmas day (25DEC04), but has put a message on her website four days early (21DEC04). After a long wait, fans of the smash hit series will now discover the release date of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE later today.

She writes, "I know you all expected this to happen on Christmas Day.

"But I was sure that those of you who celebrate Christmas have better things to do on the day itself than fight your way into my study, whereas those of you who don't celebrate Christmas would definitely prefer not to wait until the 25th."

Rowling added that her pregnancy - she is due to give birth next year (05) - has given her the time "to tinker with the manuscript to my satisfaction and I am as happy as I have ever been with the end result".

She has already revealed one un-named character will be killed in book six.