Furbymania hit the streets today as the electronic cyber-pet went on sale.

People queued from 5am outside the Early Learning Centre in Queen Street, Oxford, to be among the first owners of the cuddly toys.

And once the doors of the newly-reFurbyshed shop opened, people flooded in to snap them up.

Kim Morris-Smith, 31, of Blackbird Leys, had been queuing since 8.30am.

She was buying the toy for her ten-year-old son Blaine as a Christmas present. She said: "He was desperate to get one ever since he saw the Furbies in the Oxford Mail." Jackie Floyd, 29, from Cutteslowe, said: "This is for my son Ben, six, it's just like the Teletubbies all over again."

Maureen Gilbert, 51, of Abingdon Road, Oxford, was buying one for her two-year-old granddaughter Harley Gillett. She said: "We had all this trouble last year with the Teletubbies so I thought I'd get in quick this year." Mr David Kidd, 31, from Farmoor, said: "This was going to be a surprise Christmas present for my wife Jane but once she reads this in the paper it won't be much of a surprise any more. I always have to get her a cuddly toy of some description every Christmas."

The new look Early Learning Centre was opening after a complete refit and redesign. Mrs Fiona Davis, marketing director at the store, said: "It's the first one of its kind with product segmentation which means it's easier for children and parents to find what they want quickly. We've also left out more activities for the children to play with while parents are looking around the shop."

Only 100 Furbies were available from the store and customers had to queue early to get vouchers for the toys.

Other customers will have to get them by mail order until the store restocks next week.

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