SOUTH Fylde parents racing around to grab last minute Christmas gifts for excited little ones are being forced to brave the crowds of Blackpool and Preston, because there's not a single dedicated toy shop in the area.

And the St Annes Chamber of Trade definitely feels it's something that needs to be addressed.

Co-ordinator Arnold Sumner told the Citizen: "It's a great shame that toy shops and other similar smaller businesses are squeezed out by the big competitors.

"We've had wonderful toy shops in St Annes in the past, such as Wordens and Fredericks on Park Street who tried very hard and were super places, but they just couldn't survive against the big boys.

"It becomes more obvious at this time of year of course, but what we need is for a toy shop to move into the area with say a specialised market such as models or wonderful hand crafted toys and maybe then it would pay them to trade. "We have to find a way for the smaller shopkeeper to continue to exist."

And one St Annes mother told the Citizen she is fed up of having to travel out of town to snap up that special gift.

"Not everyone drives and sometimes you want to just pop out and get something for a party or a special gift without having to struggle through the crowds

"I know there is the likes of Beatties and Woolworths etc but I wish there was a proper old fashioned toy shop in St Annes or Lytham where there was a good choice of well made toys and maybe then we would have the chance to get a hold of the latest crazes too!"

And this year's biggest buy? A spokesman for Beatties of Blackpool said: "Everyone's going mad for Pokemon for Gameboy, the board game Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and anything to do with wrestling.

"We completely sold out of Pokemon and then got a new delivery and they've almost gone too - it's crazy.

"I think people are willing to travel into Blackpool for that special toy, but then again Beatties are planning to expand into new areas in the New Year."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.