Radcliffe pays £30k for Potter memorabilia

Daniel Radcliffe has spent £30,000 on a handwritten history of the family of Sirius Black.

The Harry Potter star bought the history of Black, who is his film character's godfather, at a charity auction for Book Aid International, which provides books for schools in Africa.

Mother Marcia Gresham said: "This should put paid to anyone who says that Daniel doesn't like reading. Daniel hasn't stopped since he read the first Harry Potter book and he loves Iain Banks and Tom Stoppard."

Gresham, who bid on behalf of Radcliffe, also bought a Stoppard play entitled Murder for £3,700 and a piece on writing by Banks for £980.

Book Aid International director Sara Harrity added: "We raised more than £63,000 [through the auction] - more than we had hoped in our wildest dreams."