Devonshire schoolboy Robert Davies Jr. believes he may have the largest collection of cuddly toys on the Island -- if not the world.

For Robert, 12, a student at Mount St. Agnes Academy, has spent the past year and most of his pocket money collecting Beanie Babies -- the latest childrens' craze.

Robert now has 110 of the cuddly creatures which take up most of the space in his bedroom -- and, as far as he knows, nobody else has such an enormous collection.

"I started getting them last April when my friends started collecting them -- I think they're really good,'' Robert said.

The furry friends can cost from $5 to as much as $3,000 in price. The most expensive in Robert's collection cost him $189.95. But his favourite is a character called Luke the Labrador, "because he looks like my dog, Toby,'' Robert said.

"I wouldn't like to think how much I've spent on them -- lots. But some have also come from birthdays and Christmas presents.'' And what does Robert plan to eventually do with his prize collection? "I'm going to keep them for my children so that they can sell them and become rich,'' he said.

HEY KIDS! If you have a larger collection of Beanie Babies than Robert, or if you have started collecting something else, contact The Royal Gazette at 295-5881 ext.

260.