THEY'RE cute, cuddly and about as rare as a goal at Turf Moor.

Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po are in huge demand all over East Lancashire but finding one is almost impossible.

Teletubby toys, launched following the huge success of the BBC children's TV show, cost from £9.89 to £13.89. Already hundreds of people have been put on waiting lists by toy shops which simply can't get enough of them.

Denis Jepson, owner of the Old And New Editions toy shop in Bolton Road, Darwen, said he had been unable to get any Teletubbies, despite anxious phone calls from would-be buyers.

"A lot of people have rung from out of town and all over but I can't get hold of any," he said. "It's a real problem. They said they would be available from September 8 but they just aren't."

It was a similar story at Benn's Toy Centre in Yorkshire Street, Burnley.

"We'll stock them if we can get them," said Ian Benn, proprietor of the family business.

"The phone is ringing all the time and people don't seem to be bothered which one it is.

"They are just desperate to get any Teletubby."

He added: "They've been on order for months and they are due in at the end of September.

"After that, we are hoping to get another order in time for Christmas.

"We've had a lot of enquiries but we are not taking orders because of the uncertainty over whether we'll get them or not.

"The problem with the toy industry is that these crazes set off and catch you on the back foot. It's a very fickle trade!"

Samantha Cocker, of Mercer and Sons Toy Store, Northgate, Blackburn, added: "There are about 200 people on our waiting list and we are trying to get hold of as many as we can."

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