Harry Potter plaque does a vanishing trick

TROPHY-HUNTING fans of boy wizard Harry Potter have stolen a commemorative plaque marking the site where JK Rowling wrote her first novel.

Staff at the Buffet King restaurant on Nicolson Street, which used to be Nicolson's Cafe, said a small brass plaque dedicated to the city author had been taken from the front entrance.

The plaque was put up last year to commemorate the former cafe's place in Edinburgh's literary heritage. JK Rowling penned chapters from her debut novel Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone.

One restaurant worker said:

"It is only a small plaque and we didn't even know it had been stolen until someone pointed it out to us.

"We haven't contacted the police about it. It's probably a waste of time for them to even try and find out who stole it."

The city's culture leader, Deidre Brock, said: "I am hopeful that it is found and put back soon."

The plaque was one of two set up on the street in honour of the writer. The other – which was unveiled by the Edinburgh City of Literature Trust in 2006 – is still in place, fixed to the outside of the building.