Hunt is on for Furbies as must-have Christmas gift flies off shelves
They were one of the biggest toy crazes of the 1990s. And now the Furby is well and truly back, with parents across the region flocking to get their hands on one.
Shops have sold out of this Christmas's must-have toy with bosses reporting a huge demand for the cuddly creatures.
Families wanting the latest models are currently being turned away from The Entertainer in Wolverhampton's Wulfrun Centre until stocks are replenished in two week's time.
In the last fortnight the shop has shifted more than 100 of the Furby toys, which range from £55 to £60 and come in 10 different colours and styles. New stock will be available online next week and in store the following week.
The toys, which were first released in 1998, only speak the invented language "Furbish" at first but are programmed to gradually start using English words. And its responses will change depending on how it is treated, creating a "personality".
Assistant manager Sharon Finch said: "There's usually a favourite toy each year but this one has been really popular. It's a fantastic toy. When you see it working you realise why the kids are getting so excited."
Alan Caswell, who runs the Arcade Toy Shop in Dudley's Fountain Arcade, is currently waiting for a delivery of Furbies after selling more than 40 in just a few weeks. He said the craze had "come out of the blue". He added: "I had an order for 48 which arrived two months ago. They sat on the shelves for a long time and then all of sudden people wanted them.
"I've had so many calls and posted some out all over the place even as far away as Southport. Now they are like gold bricks – everybody is waiting for deliveries."
Supermarkets across the region including Tesco and Asda have also sold out, while Amazon has just a few of the toys left.
Staff at Toys R Us, in Oldbury, said Furby toys had been flying off the shelves and they had presently sold out.
Bosses at the store, in Wolverhampton Road, said they were expecting another shipment to be delivered in early December.
Manager Ben Hands said: "Furbies are definitely the must-have toy this Christmas and the popularity has been phenomenal."
Dee Mellor, owner of Salter Street Toys & Models in Stafford, said: "We can't get them in quickly enough, as soon as we have some they are gone again."
Have you been able to find a Furby? Leave a comment below or send a photo with your original Furby to internet@expressandstar.co.uk or tweet @ExpressandStar
