IT'S jingle tills all the way for stores in Blackpool's booming town centre - and Teletubby-mania is playing a big part in this year's early Christmas shopping boom.

Merchandise from the hit children's television show is this season's best seller and it's bringing the crowds swarming to the town centre in search of the elusive gifts which are in demand everywhere.

People are even travelling to the Fylde from all over the country after stores in their area sold out.

One frantic mother said: "I have searched over the hills and far away to find a Teletubby for my six-year-old. A lot of shops won't take orders, either. The only way to get hold of them is to sleep outside the stores."

Shoppers were shoulder to shoulder on Saturday, the streets heaving and tills ringing as if it was Christmas Eve rather than just the beginning of December.

Shops are looking forward to a good season that has started early and looks like it will continue right through into the New Year sales.

Many in the town are also attributing the early seasonal rush to the fact that a lot of customers have more money in their pockets after picking up windfall bonuses from the building societies earlier in the year.

In addition, Blackpool Town Centre Forum carried out a larger-than-ever leaflet drop this year into 70,000 Blackpool and Preston homes, publicising the perks of shopping in Blackpool.

Along with these factors, improvements to the Hounds Hill centre and the opening of new shops in Blackpool are paying rich dividends and putting the boom back into Blackpool.

Forum manager Nigel Hanson said: "It is early days, but sales are looking better. Call it the feel-good factor or the Halifax factor, or what you will, it's good for business.

"We have increased the amount of free and subsidised car parking, increased our publicity and had injections of new life such as the opening of the Virgin Megastore. It could well be that we are in for a better Christmas than last year."

Store manager of Woolworths in Talbot Road, Malcolm Whelan, said: "Sales have been pretty buoyant. Best sellers have definitely been Teletubbies, Action Men, Barbie Dolls and confectionery."

Gill Rostron, a manager at Marks and Spencer in Church Street, added: "The season started early this year. Even September was a very good month for us.

"From the beginning of December it has been very busy and we are expecting our late opening nights to go very well indeed.

"The fact that the Hounds Hill shopping centre is back the way it should be is making a difference."

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