Student speed reads Potter book

The book has 766 pages

A college in Leicestershire is claiming one of its pupils speed read the latest Harry Potter book in just 104 minutes.

Jennifer Gosling, 15, from Burleigh College in Loughborough, is said to have speed read the 766 pages as part of a bookstore challenge.

The event kicked off at one minute past midnight at a bookstore in Manchester when the book first went on sale.

The teenage pupil was up against nine classmates and teacher Anne Jones, who is a world champion at speed reading.

Organisers of the competition claim Jennifer rifled through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in just 104 minutes.

Although Ms Jones and two other pupils all finished three minutes ahead, Jennifer was pronounced the winner by officials who quizzed the contestants on how much they could remember.

'Enjoyed book'

English teacher Ms Jones, 51, from Leicester, said: "I thought that they would give me a run for my money and I was right.

"I knew they would be motivated by Harry Potter. They really enjoyed the book.

"I'm very proud of what they've done. I got the impression from Jennifer that she was more interested in Lord of the Rings."

Jennifer's raw reading speed was 2,289 words per minute, while her "effective reading speed" was judged to be 1,068 words per minute after scoring 46.7% in the quiz.