DOZENS of toy meerkats – which were ordered by mistake – have flown off the shelves at a Saffron Walden shop thanks to a new craze for the animals. Marsha Davison, owner of Abracadabra Teddy Bears on Cross Street, was shocked when she took delivery of alm

DOZENS of toy meerkats - which were ordered by mistake - have flown off the shelves at a Saffron Walden shop thanks to a new craze for the animals.

Marsha Davison, owner of Abracadabra Teddy Bears on Cross Street, was shocked when she took delivery of almost 50 meerkats of different shapes and sizes.

"I had only ordered a few, so it was quite a surprise when so many turned up," she said. "I put a family of meerkats in the window and I had sold out within 10 days - I've never had anything go so quickly!"

Abracadabra Teddy Bears has been trading for nine years and specialises in selling a range bears from children's toys to high-valued collectables.

The shop has stocked meerkats in the past, but Ms Davison said they have never been as popular as they are now.

"There seems to be a meerkat phenomenon at the moment because of the Compare the Meerkat advert on television," she said. "I've had lots of people doing impressions as they walk past the shop.

"Also there is programme called Meerkat Manor on BBC2 which follows a family of meerkats living in the Kalahari Desert. I think they're popular because they're very sociable animals and they live in communities which people can relate to."

The cult advert for Compare the Market.com features a Russian meercat, Alexsandr Orlov, who runs a similar-sounding website, Compare the Meerkat.com. His catchphrase "simples" has become popular with youngsters.

In the run up to Christmas, Ms Davison has now placed a new order for meerkats to meet the demand.

"I think this is the biggest order we have ever placed for one type of product," she said. "But they are so popular at the moment and we have a waiting list of people who want them."

For more information about the shop call them on 01799 527222 or visit their website www.abracadabra-teddies.com