We’ll run out of top Christmas toys on the web, traders warn

Must-have technology could sell out weeks before Christmas, retailers admitted today.

Online stores have ordered far fewer of the items they expect to be best sellers after the credit crunch left them with unsold stock last year.

"Retailers really got burnt, so they have been a lot cleverer with stock this time," said David Smith of IMRG, which represents online traders. "This does mean they are likely to sell out, especially with the most popular items."

Gadgets are expected to be the biggest sellers. Electronic books, robotic Lego and a Jedi mind-training toy all feature in a top 10 gadget gifts predicted by Stuff magazine today.

"I think retailers will be playing a very nervous poker game, waiting to see who drops prices first. It will be really cut-throat," said Mr Smith.

Tom Wiggins, of Stuff magazine, said: "It's definitely going to be a really big gadget Christmas. The good news for most parents is there aren't any big new expensive console launches. However, we do expect to see big sales of Sony's PSP Go, its new portable device."

The PSP Go is Sony's attempt to take on Apple's iPhone and is the first console to rely on downloaded games.

Apple made the top 10 with its newest iPod nano, which was recently updated to take video. Computer games are also likely to be big sellers. Nintendo is releasing an update to its Wii Fit, and another popular buy will be DJ Hero, which uses a vinyl turntable-shaped controller.

"However, one item always sells well — televisions," said Mr Wiggins. "The thing people do at Christmas is watch TV, so why not on a big screen."