Toy giant set to launch fighting dolls

An ‘‘all-action doll’’ for girls and a customised spinning top are among the toys being launched at a trade fair opening today.

More than 170 products are due to be unveiled at the Toy Fair, taking place at the ExCel exhibition centre in London’s Docklands until next Wednesday.

The show is seen as an important occasion for over 380 toy manufacturers, big and small, to showcase new lines which they hope will become top sellers, particularly in the Christmas 2002 market.

Around 15,000 visitors are expected to attend over the five days, including buyers from across the world. The show is for trade only, however, and is not open to the public.

Among the products being launched in this country is the ‘Get Real Girl’, described as the antidote to traditional dolls such as Barbie and Sindy.

Each of the six £16.99 dolls has a different theme, ranging from ‘Surfgirl’ to ‘Soccergirl’.

The dolls come from toy maker Hasbro who are also responsible for ‘BeyBlade’. Seven million of the ‘fighting tops’ have been sold in Japan since they were launched there six months ago.

Each top is constructed from interchangeable parts, such as the ‘‘attack ring, eight disk, spin gear, and blade base.’’

Hasbro describe the top in their marketing as ‘‘high performance spinning tops kids can custom build in preparation to battle against other tops in a fight to the death.’’

The toy of the year and, for the first time, the toy shop of the year, are due to be announced at an award ceremony taking place tomorrow.

Organised by the British Association of Toy Retailers (BATR), the top toy award will go to the one which satisfies a number of requirements such as how well it fulfils children’s imagination, and not just sales.

Alison Newbold, from BATR, said: ‘‘Many parents might have bought the toy of the year at Christmas, but saying that it might be a surprise to some.’’