Nearly 700 children have broken the world record for the largest gathering of people dressed like Harry Potter, on the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first book in the series.

A gathering of 676 children wearing wizard robes and round glasses from 11 Bolton primary schools filled the lawn at Smithills Hall on Friday in an attempt to beat the Guinness record.

Alice Burns runs to meet hundreds of Harry Potter lookalikes gathered at Smithills Hall. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

The previous record of 521 had been held since 5 March 2015 by Tanbridge House school in Horsham, West Sussex.

Adjudicators from Guinness stipulated that every child had to be wearing a Gryffindor tie and glasses, with a wand in their hands and Potter’s trademark lightning scar on their foreheads.

The rules state Harry Potter attire must include the boy wizard’s lightning facial scar. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

The pupils had to to stand together for five minutes before they could celebrate breaking the record. Each participant was given a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

John Byrne, Bolton council’s cabinet member for culture, described the day as an amazing achievement. “We’re honoured and thrilled that Bolton has played such an important role in breaking this world record,” he said.

“We love a challenge in Bolton, so when it came to this opportunity, we knew that our children would rise to it. We have a wizard librarian who cast her spell to make this happen – Anne Burns has played an integral part in organising this, and a massive thanks must go to her, along with all the children and teachers.”

Girls chat as fellow Harry Potter lookalikes gather for the record attempt. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Bloomsbury Publishing, which worked with Bolton Library and Museum Services to host the gathering, has staged a series of events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first of seven Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Children wearing Harry Potter’s trademark Gryffindor tie and round spectacles pose during the record attempt. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

The book, which has sold 450m copies in 79 languages, first hit the shelves as part of a 500-copy print run on 26 June 1997. The series, along with the successful film adaptations starring Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, is estimated to have amassed author JK Rowling a £600m fortune.

Five-year-old Daniel from Pikes Lane primary school told the Bolton News the record had made waiting in the rain worthwhile: “I feel very good that we broke the record. I like Harry Potter anyway, so the rain was all right.”