Sussex farmers have almost sold out of turkeys with just days to go before Christmas.

A surge in demand has left some shoppers hunting around to find one of the few birds left on the shelves.

Farmers say the biggest demand has been for cruelty-free birds and they are struggling to keep up.

Other traditionally-raised turkeys are also proving more popular than factory-farmed birds.

Anthony Harris, joint owner of family-run Bridgers Farm, Langton Lane, Hurstpierpoint, said it was proving an excellent year for turkey sales and other meats.

He said: "I have a few left although I haven't got many. I've stopped taking orders. Come Wednesday, I might have a few left.

"I start taking orders in mid-November. Most of the butchers' sales are up too. I think you get this pattern with people being at home one year and away the next."

Bridgers Farm is a member of the Traditional Farmfresh Turkey Association, which offers Golden Promise turkeys.

The association was founded in 1984 to preserve the original method of turkey production where the bird is grown to full maturity before being dry plucked and hung for at least seven days. The turkey boom may be down to shoppers demanding higher quality meat rather than factory produced birds. More are also turning to local, traditional butchers and farmers instead of supermarkets.

Turkeys were domesticated about 2,500 years ago by the South American Indians but have only become the tradition as a Christmas dish in the UK in the last 40 years.

Mark Perrett, who has been turkey farming for 40 years from Oats Poultry Farm, Ditchling Common, has almost sold out. He said: "It's picked up this year and hopefully we will sell out."

Mr Perrett also likes to keep a hold of a few spare birds in case of late requests. He once received a call for a turkey on Christmas Day.

He said: "I would rather have a few over and not let anyone down than not have any left."

Lindy Hawkins, of Union Jack Farm, Henfield, said: "Demand is red hot. There is an increased demand for a nicely hand-plucked bird."

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) is listing local suppliers of poultry in an attempt to keep up the supply with demand.

High demand for real trees has also caught some retailers out.

B&Q in Pavilion Retail Park, Lewes Road, Brighton sold out of Christmas trees two weeks ago and the Wyevale Garden Centre in Warren Road, Brighton sold £15,000 worth of trees in a single day. But the demand in Sussex bucks a national trend.

A nation-wide survey found 80 per cent of adults would buy an artificial Christmas tree. More than 2,000 people took part in the poll by Focus DIY, which is selling an artificial tree every 30 seconds.