A Worcester toy shop has urged consumers to hit the high street earlier if they are to avoid festive disappointment this year.

This comes after major toy manufacturers warned Brits that they may face shortages this Christmas after the UK's largest container facility hit maximum capacity, forcing ships to turn around.

Shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk has had to redirect vessels away from the port in Felixstowe, Suffolk, as containers continue to stack up amidst growing delivery issues.

The problems are thought to have been caused by a lack of lorry drivers, a spike in imports and Covid-19 restrictions causing a perfect logistical storm.

And Nicola Clarke, the manager of Toytown in Crowngate shopping centre, has said that the industry has already started to feel the effects of the shipping crisis.

She said: "We have already had difficulties getting certain toys in.

"We were quite lucky because our boss had heard about this quite early on, so he put in a big order for all the Christmas toys, so our warehouse is quite stocked.

"But he is still concerned that come December, there may still be quite a lot of stuff he still can't get."

Although many shops are scrambling to secure stocks of certain best sellers such as LEGO, Mrs Clarke has said that the crisis has limited the availability of various toys.

And she's also predicted that the limited availability will spark an early flurry of festive shopping.

"It's kind of across the board really, I know LEGO was mentioned but we have just had a big delivery of LEGO," she added.

"But again, we think that we might run out of certain types of LEGOS by December.

"It has affected us quite a lot. We have just had a big LEGO delivery but up until now we've had hardly anything, it has taken us this long to get it.

"We may be able to keep our shelves stocked, but customers might not get the choice that they normally do through December.

"So I think the main rush is going to be more November this year rather than December."

Industry figures have suggested that the cost of securing a shipping container has risen exponentially since last year, with today's prices ten times that of 12 months ago. 

And Mrs Clarke has predicted that rising prices further down the supply chain could be set to trickle through to the high street.

"I know there has been issues with shipping, and the shipping prices have gone up as well," she continued.

"There are so many issues regarding the toys that we just have to hope for the best really.

"Prices may go up because of that, and it will be across the board because if it is dearer to get the toys in then it is going to affect all of us."

Tim Evans, from Toys and Games Of Worcester, in Broad Street, said that he's managed to get all his Christmas stock in as normal, however, he has noticed that deliveries have been more fragmented.

He said: "Others may have shortages, but not Toys & Games Of Worcester.

"The top toys always sell out, whether it's a Buzz Lightyear, Tracey Island, or a Furby, and this year will be no different.

"Demand is very high for the top toys, and this year there are probably more top sellers than normal.

"Most of our stock is in by mid-October, this has been achieved this year as normal, but deliveries have been fragmented."

Mr Evans also gave an insight into what he thinks this year's top sellers will be. 

"The top toys this Christmas will be LEGO, Pokémon, and board games - we have great supplies of these," he added.