A toy shortage has hit Brighton and Hove just days before Christmas.

Parents will have to face disappointed children on Saturday when they discover Santa has not delivered the goods.

Some of the most popular toys, which include the Robosapien, are being sold on auction web site eBay for £145 but it is unlikely they will arrive in time for Christmas.

In the shops, the Robosapien sells for less than half the price but many shelves are bare.

Giles Paley-Phillips, 27, manager of Big Kids toy shop, part of the Toymaster group, in High Street, Lewes, said price wars were to blame for the shortage.

He said: "When the Robosapien first came out, it was £79.99. Then larger stores dropped their prices because there were too many and they didn't think they were going to sell. We have to compete with them so we dropped our price too and then everyone buys them. The toy industry tends to do that at Christmas but then everyone loses out."

His shop has run out of all its models of Robosapien, which was designed by a NASA scientist and can talk, dance and perform karate moves.

He was unsure whether the shop would continue to stock the toys as he said the craze may pass after Christmas.

He said: "I don't think the robot is that great. I am hoping people will buy alternative presents."

Other toys, such as the Badge It, have been a surprise seller. The badge maker was sold two years ago and has been redesigned so badges can be made in several different shapes. Costing £19.99, it is affordable but, again, there are none to be had.

Mr Paley-Phillips said: "There is no chance of getting this for Christmas now. It has been a huge seller. We don't have any left because some companies just underestimate the amount of stock they will need.

"Other companies are renowned for not producing enough stock for Christmas, which is very irritating especially because we are an independent shop and don't tend to buy in bulk."

The Tamagotchi has also made a comeback. After a period of relative anonymity, the hand-held robotic pet, which emits a bleep to let you know when it needs feeding, petting or exercising, is once more in the Toy Retailers' Association top ten.

Mr Paley-Phillips said: "These are sold out all over Sussex. They have been brought back and are very popular. I get asked for them every day."

He suspects the manufacturers of holding back stock so when the demand for the toy is very high, they will all sell immediately.

Lindsey Hemsley, 39, a sales assistant for Gamleys, in Church Road, Hove, said: "You cannot get them for love nor money. They have been huge this year. There have been lots of disappointed parents and we get the blame for everything.

"If you want to get a top toy, you cannot leave it to the last minute."

The £12.99 Tamagotchi has been the most popular toy at Gamleys but other big sellers include an interactive Barbie doll, priced at £19.99, a Baby Born bath at £29.99 and a Spiderman Super Truck City, also £29.99.

Lord Of The Rings merchandise and the Disney Princess Carriage and doll have also been very popular.