PEOPLE in East Lancashire are going mad to get their hands on the new "virtual" computer pets.

The latest Japanese craze - cyber pets such as Digital Doggie and CompuKittie - are a sell-out in shops countywide with some retail outlets even on a waiting list with the manufacturers just to sell the product!

Mercers in Blackburn were forced to compile a waiting list of customers desperate to get their hands on the pet computers, costing around £10.

And when Mercers were allowed only 24 out of their original 144 order, the pets were sold out in a matter of hours.

Mrs Rose Fowler, toy buyer for Mercers, said: "It is the latest craze. "Like the manufactures say, these computer pets will be bigger than the Rubik's cube, if first sales are anything to go buy."

She added: "People have been coming in and ringing up for them.

"When we got them in on Tuesday they were sold out in less than a day.

"We only got a small percentage of what we asked for, but it is because they are such a good seller. The manufacturers can't cope with demand."

Children's World in Blackburn have ordered the pets and Toymaster in Burnley have sent in an order to manufacturers but are still waiting for supplies.

Mrs Fowler added: "They are really different - that is the attraction.

"They will be massive this year, then out next year, like Power Rangers."

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