This year's 10 most searched for children's toys

A decade after its introduction, Ben 10 is getting a reboot, but while super fans eagerly await the new series, the popularity of the original characters is keeping the 10-year-old super hero on the must-buy list. [Photo: Getty]

'Nanny Plum is lots of fun.' Although arguably less well known than its stablemate Peppa Pig, Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom is definitely on a par in the humour stakes and the popularity of the toy merchandise is clearly an indication that pre-schoolers can't get enough of the animated characters Gaston the barking ladybird, Nanny Plum the hapless fairy and of course Ben and Holly. [Photo: Amazon.co.uk]

In the mid-1990s, kids across the country sat glued to their screens watching five teenagers transform into superheroes. But though the original version of 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' is loved by many a parent, their children are equally as keen on the evil-fighting badasses. And with a movie reboot due in 2017, the popularity of the spin-off merchandise could be set to rise. [Photo: Amazon.co.uk]

Does any grown up actually know what Shopkins are? Despite our bafflement at what to do with the colourful little characters (are they characters?), Shopkins is up there in this year's most-wanted list. [Photo: Getty]

Despite stiff competition from rival train cartoon, Chuggington, there's only one winner in the battle of the choo choos. The love affair with Thomas, Percy et al continues. [Photo: Getty]

'Paw Patrol, Paw Patrol we'll be there on the double…' Just a few bars from this kids cartoon's theme tune will have you humming it for the rest of the day. And little ones clearly can't get enough of the day-saving pups either. [Photo: Amazon.co.uk]

Apple Jack and co may have been given a modern make-over, but the plait-their-hair ponies are every bit as popular now as in their 80s heyday. [Photo: Getty]

From jumping in muddle puddles to poor old Daddy Pig's loveable useless-ness, there isn't an under four-year-old in the land who isn't completed obsessed with Peppa and Co. Little wonder, therefore, that Peppa Pig has become one of the richest TV characters of all time, raking in £640 million last year from TV rights and spin-off merchandise alone. [Photo: Getty]

The popularity of Lego with kids can be explained with a simple calculation of toy maths. Number of pieces in each set X size of the pieces = Number of hours of happy play. Unfortunately for parents, the size and number of the little pieces also determines the degree of pain that will be inflicted when you step on the little blighters. [Photo: Getty]