'It's been wonderful': JK Rowling celebrates 20 years of Harry Potter

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has looked back to the publication of her first book in the series 20 years ago today as fans celebrated the landmark anniversary.

Ms Rowling said the works had allowed her to share a world of magic in a tweet saying "It's been wonderful".

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first of seven books in the series, was published for the very first time two decades ago to the day.

It introduced the world the boy wizard who quickly became a sensation with children who fell in love with a world of magic and adventure.

The books also inspired a series of blockbuster films.

Then child actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson built careers from their roles in the series.

Though Ms Rowling was always clear that the series would end with the seventh book, she has continued to create spin-offs expanding on the stories of minor characters.

Fans of the books have been celebrating the anniversary today.

Crowds gathered at Kings Cross station to have their photographs taken at the platform nine and three quarters sign.

One of them, Kirsten Boswell, said she had been reading the books since the very start and she even has a tattoo of the Deathly Hallows.

Others have been paying tribute online with messages about what the novels meant to them.