Hamster-hunting shoppers waited anxiously outside a Black Country toyshop today as the latest elusive batch of this year’s must-have Christmas present went on sale.

Alan Caswell, owner of Arcade Toy Shop in Dudley town centre, took delivery of 72 Go Go Pets Hamsters yesterday afternoon and around a dozen customers queued outside his shop before he opened at 9am.

A steady stream of shoppers made their way through the doors after opening, all with one thing on their mind – getting their hands of one the pretend pets for their son, daughter or grandchild. A notice posted on the door warned customers the stock of 72 animals would be sold on a one per person basis.

Mr Caswell said he had been forced to make the rule to “give everyone in Dudley a fair chance”. All the hamsters were sold out by 9.30am this morning.

First in the queue at 6.30am was Sunil Patel, aged 45, who had travelled from his home in Beckminster Road, Penn, to try and get two toys for eight-year-old Krina and four-year-old Anjali.

Mr Patel, who was made redundant from his job as a programmer for Datalex last week said: “I was made redundant on Friday so I thought I’ve got the time.

“When I saw the sign I thought I would only be able to get one but I was told if I went to the back of the queue as I had been here so long I could get another one. This will definitely make the children’s Christmas. I’ve been trying on the internet, at Argos, everywhere but you just can’t get hold of them.”

Another happy customer was retired widow Doreen Phipps, aged 66, who also queued twice for granddaughters Lily, aged eight, and 10-year-old Shannon.

“My daughter Nicola has been trying for about two months but she couldn’t get them.” The pensioner, of Old Park Road, Dudley, said the gifts would “keep the children quiet”.

Andy and Lorraine Attwood, of Fens Crescent, Brierley Hill, managed to get hamsters a month ago but have been struggling to find accessories ever since. Mr Caswell is not getting more accessories until January.