Teenage wizard Harry Potter may have boosted the popularity of a boarding school.

Competition for the 120 subsidised places at Christ's Hospital in Horsham which become available in September was the highest ever. Applications were up 22 per cent on last year.

Head teacher Dr Peter Southern feels the increase may have been partly caused by the 'Harry Potter effect'. He said: "Christ's Hospital has always been good news for families which have a need for boarding education without the means to pay high fees.

"But if the 'Harry Potter effect' has helped play a part in highlighting the beneficial opportunities which boarding brings, then we are delighted."

A spokeswoman for the school, which only takes full boarders and offers free places for 40 per cent of pupils, said the best-selling books by JK Rowling had shown a good image of boarding school life.

She said: "I don't think the increases are solely to do with Harry Potter but I think the books have portrayed the positive things boarding schools can provide, like close friends and independence. Our pupils certainly enjoy reading them."

Tom New, one boarder, was so impressed with the first book, he wrote to the author. His letter was reproduced, along with other credits, in the second of the series.

The books, which have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been made into a film starring Daniel Radcliffe, follow the adventures of Potter and his pals at their boarding school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Christ's Hospital said many children who came to open days told teachers they had read them.

Wizardry is not on the curriculum of the 450-year-old school but a documentary-maker did feel there were similarities between Hogwarts and Christ's.

Three junior pupils were filmed for the Channel 4 series Book Box which compared real boarding school life with Hogwarts. It is expected on TV in February.