Exactly what was on Santa's sleigh for lucky youngsters this year? DOMINIC MASON investigates.

THUNDERBIRDS and cyber-dogs were the most popular toys to fill children's stockings in York and North and East Yorkshire at Christmas.

Youngsters, it seems, have especially gone crazy over virtual pets like Poo-chi and Teksta, the small electronic puppies that need nurturing and looking after.

Other big sellers included micro scooters, the fad which swept through the country in 2000 and a favourite with young and old alike.

And following the success of Chris Tarrant's TV quiz Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? there was enormous interest in the new electronic board game among Christmas shoppers.

Toy stores in York have generally reported a good year for sales.

Fenwick's toy department saw sales increase over last year, and Ian Simpson, of London Toys, said, despite 2000 being an average year, the last three weeks of December were extremely busy.

"Teksta, the interactive puppy, was one of the biggest favourites, along with Thunderbirds, which is still going strong after all these years."

But according to Emma Carle, of Harrogate-based manufacturers Tiger Electronics, the traditional toy industry is in decline.

The growing popularity of computer games and game consoles meant children were growing out of traditional toys at an earlier age.

"Kids are getting older younger, so older children over the age of eight are turning to more adult-oriented toys like PlayStation.

"The trend towards being sophisticated is why we are manufacturing the new electronic pets like Poo-chi. "

Moira Downie, of the British Association of Toy Retailers, said children were getting fussier all the time and that meant toys had to do more and more things.

Poo-chi, which retails for £24.99, is a good example. It walks and talks and eats a plastic bone.

The big Christmas hits of 1999 were Furby the interactive toy pet and the Japanese Pokmon spin-offs.

Toy favourites in 2000 have been in even greater demand.

Following the Christmas rush, some reports have estimated toy sales nationwide are up by as much as nine per cent.

Updated: 10:07 Saturday, January 06, 2001