Harry Potter fans camp in London's Trafalgar Square

The weather for the Harry Potter campers has not been magic

If nothing else, Harry Potter fans are dedicated.

Travelling more than 5,000 miles around the world to sleep on a concrete floor, in the rain, without a tent, for four days, in the hope of catching a glimpse of the film's stars, is dedication.

That is what 28-year-old Patty Zurita is doing.

She flew in from Mexico City on Sunday and has been camped out in Trafalgar Square ahead of the premiere there on Thursday of the final instalment of the film franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II.

"It has been part of my life, part of my childhood and I had to be here for the last film," she said.

Hot Sunday

However, if she had checked the weather report for central London she may have changed her mind.

The last few nights have seen rain, and as I spoke to her there was a fresh downpour.

"Camping has been horrible but the weather's not much better in Mexico at the moment," she joked.

Patty Zurita travelled all the way from Mexico City

She is just one of hundreds of fans who have set up camp hoping to see the film's stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

And judging by the Canadian and Argentinean flags being drenched in the London rain, she is not the only one to have travelled thousands of miles for the premiere.

But their residency in the famous central London square could at least have been drier had their tents not been taken down.

Lauren Furness, 16 from Nottingham, arrived on Sunday with a tent but it was confiscated by security after complaints they were spoiling the view.

"On Sunday it was hot and we had the tent and didn't need it," she complained.

Lauren Furness had her tent confiscated

"But on Monday the tents were taken away and we've been sleeping in the rain."

She added: "But Harry Potter is part of our childhood.

"We are the Harry Potter generation. It is amazing and we hope to see JK Rowling more than anyone else - she is a genius."

A spokesman for the mayor of London said it welcomed the fans to the square but added: "The numbers able to get on to the square would be vastly reduced and their view obscured if tents were put up there."

Warner, organisers of the premiere, said it was also urging people in the square not to use tents.

Marina Gomez came with her friends from Spain

Despite the poor weather, and the prospect of sleepless, wet nights, about 7,000 people tuned up on Wednesday queuing for hours around the National Gallery and up Charing Cross Road, to get their wristband to allow them access to the event.

But amongst the excitement, there is the inevitable feeling in the crowds that something special is coming to an end.

Marina Gomez , 17, flew in from Spain with nine of her friends and has been in the square since Sunday in what she has described as the "worst camping ever".

Talking about the end of the franchise, she said: "It is so, so sad. It's hard to believe.

"We have grown up with it - it's like one of your parents dying."

It may sound a bit melodramatic but it is the kind of dedication that us 'muggles' will know nothing about.