Firm hoping for a festive firecracker

ONE of the top gifts expected to fly off the shelves this Christmas was created by an Oldham-based toy-giant.

Fireman Sam Pontypandy Multi Rescue Set, distributed by Character Options from its Leesbrook Mill warehouse, has made the Dream Toys list, which is predicted annually by the Toy Retailers Association (TRA).

The set, priced £29.99, allows kids to help put out a cooker fire, help Sam the cat down from a tree and avoid a collapsing floor and roof.

Jerry Healy, marketing director at Character Options, said: “We’re absolutely delighted at being in the Dream Dozen. I think it is a great representation, not only of the Pontypandy Rescue Set, but of the whole Fireman Sam range.”

The TRA selection panel said it had seen “amazing technological advancements” this year and expected the best-sellers to be a mixture of old and new — some with a technological twist.

The list of 12 includes Hasbro’s Let’s Rock Elmo and Star Wars Ultimate Force Tech Lightsaber Assortment, as well as an interactive alien.

Prices of toys on the list range from £18.99 to £91.99.

Gary Grant, chairman of the TRA’s Dream Toys selection panel, said parents could expect to see traditional brands like Scalextric powering into 2012 with an Olympic-inspired set.