Stocking up on Christmas presents in September may seem premature, but parents are urged to show up early due to fears of toy shortages.

The industry has become the latest affected by shipping delays and the shortage of 90,000 heavy truck delivery drivers.

And that means there might be a limited number of the most popular toys as the holiday season approaches.

Gary Grant, founder of The Entertainer toy chain, said, “We can’t already get the full amount of containers we need to move our inventory compared to last year.

“And we are still in summer. Any delay from this point runs the risk that the stock will not be delivered before Christmas.

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“The added complication is that when a container comes in, we have this shortage of truck drivers.

“So there are hold-ups that move them to warehouses and stores.

“If you know what you want to buy for your child, don’t run across the country in December.

“I would really recommend putting things away early.

“The thing to remember is that there will always be toys on the shelves.

“The only risk is that the range gets narrower as we approach Christmas, so the popular toy your child wants may not be there when you need it.”

Mr. Grant also explained how various blockages in the supply chain have driven costs “through the roof”.

He added: ‘A container that would have cost us £ 1,000 in early 2020 now costs between £ 11,000 and £ 14,000.

“It’s like saying that a toy that cost £ 5 last year is now selling for £ 50 or £ 60.”

Fortunately, he said the increases are not being passed on to customers at this time.

The supply problem, caused by a combination of Covid and bureaucracy, has meant shipping containers ended up on the wrong continents.

Alex Veitch from Logistics UK said: “Normally the logistics are pretty straightforward for things like toys.

“But just about anything that could go wrong has gone wrong in the past 18 months. It’s been a very, very bumpy race so far.

This year’s most wanted toys include Squishys, Cat Vs Pickles, Paw Patrol Vehicles, and Jiggly Pets.

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Mr. Grant said: “Some lines are still very popular.

“Barbie has had a big year so far, and so has Paw Patrol. And with a Paw Patrol movie on the way, there’s always the potential for further increase in demand.”

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