FATHER Christmas faces a tough challenge to keep little darlings in Bromsgrove happy this year as top toys fly off the shelves in town stores.

Wannabe wizards have placed Harry Potter goodies at the top of their Christmas wish lists, along with stunt car sets and more traditional dolls.

Harry Potter Lego castle has proved a firm favourite for visitors to Roy's Toys, in Rubery. However they have also seen surprised sales of Micro Machines Stunt City.

Assistant manager Peter Bugni said: "We have been taken by surprise at the popularity of this toy, they have been selling like hot cakes.

"Other larger toy stores have completely sold out, so when parents heard we had some left they came rushing down, we were selling two or three a day and now we have sold out."

Baylis' toyshop in Bromsgrove's High Street has also been struck by Harry Potter mania, with the special edition Hornby railway sets completely selling out. Store owner Noel Harris said: "There has been such a high demand for these toys, we just can't get hold of any more."

He added toys based on the hit television show Robot Wars were proving popular and, for the third year running, sales of traditional dolls had been up.

The British Association of Toy Retailers has predicted the Harry Potter Lego sets will fill most stockings, along with Nutcracker Barbie and Drilling Bob the Builder.

Last year, Thunderbirds' Tracey Island was one of the biggest seasonal sellers, following the revival of the Seventies puppet show.