A funky friend called Dave is predicted to be one of the top five toys this Christmas.

WITH Christmas still a couple of months away, Dave the Funky Monkey has already won many honours and awards on the back of his UK debut, including a prediction from Sky News and Hamleys that he will be a top Christmas bestseller.

Most recently, experts at Toys R Us have predicted that he will be one of the chain’s top five bestsellers. A spokesman says: “He’s a lively little character that sits on your shoulder and makes noises to passers-by. It’s the sort of toy kids dream of tearing the wrapping paper off.

Not only is he fun, but he is also affordable”.

Dave is already flying off the shelves at Hamleys within weeks of his arrival and continues to impress toy critics, recently receiving a Highly Commended mention in Toy Talk Awards Robotic Toys category.

The monkey, which is being stocked by stores such as Debenhams, WH Smith and Argos, and is priced at £24.99, is made by Wow! Stuff.

Managing director Richard North, says: “People have fallen in love with Dave. He seems to have captured every child’s imagination, particularly the older children aged 16 to 60.

“ Of course, he was aimed at five-15-year-olds so we’re delighted he has crossed over into the ‘big boys’ toys’ market too.

“The response thus far has been amazing – we’ve sold out of every Dave we can make and while that means there will be 200,000 on the way by sea freight over the next eight weeks, our two factories can only produce a further 250,000 between now and Christmas, which will only service about 70 per cent of demand.

“We are trying everything to get a third factory up and running to meet demand.”

■ To keep up to date with the latest on Dave the Funky Monkey and to receive email updates as soon as he goes on sale in stores, join the Funky Monkey mailing list at davemonkey.co.uk

What’s hot this year

HIGH-TECH toys will make a comeback this Christmas, led by a dancing rubbish truck called Stinky, a children’s Kidzoom video camera and a Ben10 wristband that unleashes alien sounds, according to toy retailer Hamleys.

Among other novelties, watch out for the new meerkat members of Sylvanian families and an updated round Monopoly board incorporating today’s property prices.

Ben10 Ultimate Alien Disc Ultimatrix, £23 (Bandai)

The key to unlocking alien sound and light effects, it is predicted to be in great demand for Christmas. A mini disc slogs into the wristband to unleash a string of extraordinary noises.

Kidizoom video camera, £75 (VTech)

This is likely to replicate the success of VTech cameras, which have proved best-sellers for the past two Christmases. Features include a built-in video editor, digital zoom and a colour LCD screen as well as games.

Stinky The Garbage Truck, £82, (Mattel Matchbox)

Not a pleasant name, but it seems to enthral children who feed him cars and watch him gobble them up and spit them out. He will also talk, and even break into a Fred Astaire-style all-singing, all-dancing routine given enough encouragement.