THE queues had started forming inside the shopping centre a good two hours before the arrival of its famous visitor.

Dozens and dozens of excited children chattered excitedly, many of them clutching copies of their favourite author's book.

In the battle for the literary loyalty of the nation's children, Jacqueline Wilson is one of the few authors who can outsell J K Rowling, she of Harry Potter fame.

Her phenomenal success has seen more than 15 million books sold in the UK alone - and she has overtaken North-East author Catherine Cookson as the most borrowed in English libraries.

When Ms Wilson arrived in Darlington to promote her latest offering, Best Friends, in the Ottakars book store, in the town's Cornmill Centre, on Saturday, the impact was extraordinary.

Before 9am, a line of families had begun snaking its way from the bookshop entrance to the other side of the centre.

The grin on many children's faces widened with each slow step towards the table where Ms Wilson had set up base for a precious hour, between 11am and noon.

"She's just brilliant. I can't believe I'm going to see her," said a clearly delighted Nicola Heaney, ten, who had travelled from Middlesbrough.

"I love her books," said 11-year-old Hayley Mills. "I can't believe I'm going to breathe the same air as her."

But excited anticipation turned to disappointment for some fans.

At 11.30am, an announcement boomed across the centre, declaring that no one else would be admitted to the queue after noon. Those in it, however, were guaranteed a signed copy.

Inside the shop, Bath-born Ms Wilson, whose works include Double Act, The Illustrated Mum and Tracy Beaker, posed for pictures and chatted to her army of young fans.

Her appeal to many of them was identification with issues ranging from bullying and depression to parents' divorce.

"Thank-you so much for coming and taking the time to read my books," she said to them.

"She's great," gushed Gemma Lane, of Darlington. "You can relate to everything she says."

The chaotic scenes were unprecedented for Darlington, but Ms Wilson is growing accustomed to the queues.

The author once signed books for eight-and-a-quarter hours in Bournemouth. She had another marathon session in Newcastle last Wednesday and has one to look forward to in York, on Saturday afternoon.

In Darlington, she sold 652 copies of her latest book on the day.

* For a full interview with Jacqueline Wilson, see tomorrow's Northern Echo