Mods and monsters early Christmas favourites

Children will be pretending to be Mods, poking virtual monsters in the eye, and boxing their family this Christmas, according to one of the world’s largest toy shops.

It may only be June but festive excitement is in the air as Hamleys released its list of predicted top-selling Christmas gifts yesterday.

The central London shop is tipping traditional favourites such as Mickey Mouse and Barbie alongside more modern hits such as Moshi Monsters.

The list has something of a vintage feel, with the Razor Bella Pocket Mod, a classic Italian-style scooter for over-12s who fancy themselves as the next Twiggy.

For children who prefer adventure to Sixties cool, the MC350 Razor Dirt Bike will fulfil their thirst for off-road adventures with a high torque motor, large knobby tires, and speeds up to 12mph.

A fast action game called Bum Face is also sure to get the family’s pulses racing, as aggression and quick reactions are rewarded. Players must bash their opponent four times in the face to knock them out of the ring, but losers can gain points by hitting their own backsides.

For more hi-tech thrills, children can download the Moshi Monster App Monster to bring their monster to life by dressing them up, listening to music through them and even poking them in the eye.

Mickey Mouse is brought into the modern age with Master Moves Mickey, known as M3, a breakdancing mouse with the hottest moves such as the “Groove Copter” and signature handstand.

Another favourite is the Barbie Dream House, which comes complete with a glam pink chandelier and an outdoor sundeck with a telescope for whale watching.

Toddlers who may have envied their older brothers’ and sisters’ Mini Micro scooter have a modified model. The Mini Micro 3-in-1 comes with a sturdy seat that can be adapted as the child gets older and fitted to an original scooter.