Traditional toys like Lego and dolls are top sellers this Christmas, retailers have revealed.

Charlene Brown, of the Annex toy store in the Phoenix Centre on Reid Street, said: “Lego is always very popular — it’s one of those classics, like Barbie dolls for girls.”

Ms Brown said that other popular gifts with more traditional theme were Rainbow Loom, a toy loom used to weave brightly-coloured rubber bands into bracelets and other jewellery.

And she added that Nerf toy crossbows and guns had taken a new twist, with the boys’ range supplemented by girls’ versions in colours like pink and purple.

Peggy Douglas, of Daisy & Mac on Queen Street, confirmed Lego — first produced in 1949 — as a big seller.

She said: “Lego is always a popular buy — with girls, it’s baby carriages and dolls which are always a favourite. We’ve also sold a lot of swingball sets and remote-controlled trucks and cars are popular too.”

Ms Douglas added that toy kitchen and barbecue sets were also a hit for girls, with a kitchen trolley set, complete with pretend food items proving a popular buy.

And she said the Monster High range of dolls — dressed in Goth-style clothes — were big this year.

Ms Douglas added: “We also have tents in the shape of castles — girls love them and we’ve sold quite a lot of those.”

And she said that for younger children, “pull and play” toys were a big seller.

Andrea Edwards, co-owner of nearby Kit N Caboodle, said: “We sell a lot of puzzles and games and educational books people can read to their children or they start themselves from step one to step four.

“We are also selling a lot of Alex toys, which allow children to make their own flip-flops, tie-dye T shirts and things like that — it’s like arts and crafts.”

She added: “We don’t sell anything like video games — we’re more on the educational side.”

Ms Edwards added that the firm also had a 15 percent off sale in the run-up to Christmas.

For adults, Susan Millar, vice-president and general manager at Front Street jewellers Crisson, said that — despite the recession, people were prepared to spend on expensive jewellery and watches.

She added: “The hot item for us is Pandora, a charm bracelet system. Probably around half of Bermuda’s women have them on their wrists already and people add silver and gold charms to mark special occasions.”

And she said that watches — from high-end Rolex to fashion styles like Casio — were also selling well.

Ms Millar added: “Rolexes are flying out the door. We have a lot of husbands buying them for their wives and vice versa. A Rolex is such a classic gift — people save up for them and Christmas is the time to get one.”

Among the other hot items at Crisson are the John Hardy range of bracelets for women, while David Yurman’s range of men’s’ jewellery — including necklaces, dog tag styles and bracelets in metal and leather — were a hit with the style conscious.

Paula Clarke, CEO of the Island’s biggest department store Gibbons Company, said that fragrances — for both women and men — remained a favourite for Christmas.

She added: “Fashion is always big — not just a fashion trend but a great gift idea are sweaters — men’s, women’s and kids’. Outerwear is always a big seller at this time of year too and leggings and skinny pants for ladies are big sellers as well.

“We have hats and gloves for kids as well and they are very popular and scarves for men and women are selling well.

“For the home, blankets — heated blankets and throws — are really hot and great value and boxed glasses, whether for wine or champagne are also very popular.”

Ms Clarke added: “People are practical — they want to give something people are going to use, things that are fashionable, contemporary and useful.”

And — in line with a trend towards tradition — Barbie dolls, which first went on sale in 1959, as well as the newer Bratz range of dolls, were favourite picks.

Ms Clarke added that TOMS shoes and boots, an eco-friendly range which also donates a pair of shoes to people in need on an international basis for every pair sold, were big Christmas sellers.