Santa's sack might be missing Igglepiggle: Shops sell out of Christmas toys

Igglepiggle - a rising star of the BBC's CBeebies channel - helps lull toddlers to sleep with his songs and stories in the daily episodes of In the Night Garden.

Scroll down for more...

Sleeping star: Igglepiggle and his blanket

But families hoping to buy a replica Igglepiggle as a Christmas present are likely to be disappointed.

Shops are selling out of the cuddly toys as soon as they arrive and few extra shipments are planned.

Hasbro, which makes Igglepiggle, is said to have underestimated demand when placing orders with Chinese manufacturers earlier this year.

"The huge demand is beyond what the industry can supply," said Gary Grant of the Toy Retailers Association.

"The manufacturer has just never been able to catch up. They are selling out as soon as we get them in.

"The industry just cannot predict what is going to sell until the consumer walks in and asks for it."

He said the frenzy was similar to that seen for Teletubby toys at Christmas 1997.

The toy version of Igglepiggle, who always carries a comfort blanket and is described as energetic but vulnerable, costs £34.99.

Scroll down for more...

Toys based on other characters from his television show, In the Night Garden, are also selling well. They include Upsy Daisy and Ninky Nonk the train.

The programme, which is screened at 6.20pm, was dropped from CBeebies two weeks into its run earlier this year.

Complaints from parents led to the commissioning of two further series.

In the Night Garden, narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi, is described by its creators as a "magical picture book place that exists between waking and sleeping".

Its surreal content has seen it likened to The Magic Roundabout.

The show, aimed at children aged one to three, is made by Ragdoll Productions which is also behind Teletubbies, another CBeebies favourite.

The BBC will earn royalties for each Igglepiggle sold.

Mr Grant said toys associated with a summer movie hit, Transformers, are also in short supply.

Scroll down for more...

The Optimus Prime, which changes from a truck into a robot, sells for £39.99, while the Bumblebee car, with robotic movements and sounds, costs £79.99.

"The film's impact has been way beyond our expectations in terms of the volume of toys being sold," said Mr Grant.

His association released its list of the top 12 toys for Christmas yesterday. The roster is dominated by hi-tech gadgets which some traditionalists think can stunt children's imaginations.

That claim was rejected by Mr Grant who said: "A box of plastic bricks isn't enough now. The creative, imaginative side of play has embraced technology.

"It has moved toys into an arena where children are going to play with an item for much longer than in the past."

Among the current best-selling toys are figures from the BBC's Doctor Who television series. The company behind them, Character Options, is likely to have another hit with the release next month of a voice-controlled Dalek.

Costing £99, it recognises up to 40 commands and can stand guard outside a room.

Two board games have also been launched in time for Christmas. Are you smarter than a ten-year-old?, which is based on a Noel Edmonds TV series, competes for shelf space with Golden Balls, based on an ITV show fronted by Jasper Carrott.

Wish list: The Transformers' Optimus Prime is also in short supply