A TINY North-East shop is gearing up to challenge the world-famous Hamleys for the title of Britain's best toy store.

Lamb's Toy Shop, in Darlington, has been named the finest in the North and the owners now have their sights set on the national crown.

The store polled the most votes in a British Association of Toy Retailers contest to find a champion for the region between Manchester and the Scottish Borders.

Lamb's now goes on to a nationwide competition, with the winner due to be announced on January 30.

That will mean coming up against the likes of Hamleys, in London, Toys R Us and Toymaster.

Anthony Lamb, of the shop, said: "We're in with a good shout, even though we're up against some big names."

The winner of the competition has previously been decided by industry leaders.

This year, however, it has switched to a different format, allowing children to decide the victor.

Of all the voting forms returned, judges picked out that of six-year-old Honor Corfield, whose family live in Sedgehill, Northumberland.

She sang the shop's praises, saying that she and her family were regular visitors, and her effort won her £100 worth of toys.

Yesterday, the family visited the shop, in West Auckland Road, to celebrate with staff.

The Corfields are also now in the running for a national prize, and will win a Disneyland holiday if Lamb's is victorious in the final.

Mr Lamb said: "They couldn't have picked better people.

"Part of the family live in Darlington and some in Northumberland, but they're always itching to visit."

The shop is being deluged by Christmas shoppers looking for this year's latest crazes.

Mr Lamb said that most in demand had been Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures.

He said: "They're back with a vengeance and we've sold several hundred of them."

Mr Lamb said the toy in demand for girls had been Baby Annabelle.