HUNDREDS of determined parents spent the night queuing outside in the bitter cold hoping to get their hands on a Spice Girl - a 12-inch replica doll, that is.

Fewer than 200 of the dolls will arrive in Preston for the festive period, and are expected to challenge the sell-out Teletubbies for the Christmas toy number one slot.

Anxious parents lined up along Deepdale's Toys 'R' Us store - the only one expecting stocks before December 25. Those at the front of the queue were given tickets to make sure they were among the first for the feisty five when the cash tills started ringing.

Keen parent Christine Wilson, of Penwortham, started queuing in the early hours of the morning when it was snowing.

She said: "My daughter is a huge fan and just adores Posh Spice. I didn't realise so many people would want Spice Girl dolls."

Toy manufacturers Galoob, which makes the £16.99 dolls, say they cannot keep up with demand. However, frustrated parents have criticised the company, claiming it has deliberately made too few of the toys to push orders through the roof.

Another queuing customer, Rob Newman, added: "It's what my daughter really, really wants"

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