Sales of Power Rangers and Frozen dolls last year helped family-owned Irish toy-seller Smyths enjoy a 34% increase in pre-tax profits in its British and Northern Irish operations to £4.3m (€5.86m).

A place where children once went wild with delight is now being turned into a retreat of quiet contemplation.

WITH a movie-style premiere, sales of controversial video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are already set to smash previous records in Ireland and around the globe.