Toys tipped for Santa's wish lists put through their paces by Derby children

WESTFIELD'S newly-appointed Panel of Fun put toys to the test in time for Christmas.

Wearing lab coats and safety goggles, the team of five youngsters reviewed and rated 10 of the most popular toys in a testing laboratory set up in the Derby shopping centre.

Head of Fun Molly Taylor, eight, along with her deputy heads Kieran Wakefield, ten, Lucy Farrow, nine, Penelope Harrison, nine, and Joseph Preed, seven, spent time on Saturday playing with the toys.

And for Molly, who beat 25 others to the role of Head of Fun last month, it was a "dream come true" getting to test the toys.

Molly, of Paterson Avenue, Chaddesden, said: "It was so much fun."

The toys, which included a Furby, a Lego set and a plastic guitar, were presented by retailer The Entertainer and ranged in price from £10 to £70.

The children each played with the toys before filling out a review sheet. They then announced their top choice, which was the Nerf N-Strike Deploy CS6 – a foam blaster which transforms from a torch and shoots foam darts.

Kieran, of Breaston, said: "I would definitely ask Santa for this toy. It's awesome. We gave it 10 out of 10."

Lucy, of Milford, said the Furby was her favourite.

She said: "It was so cute and it spoke to me. I didn't like the Cabbage Patch Doll though – it was a bit freaky.

"It was really good fun playing with the toys."

And Penelope, of Chaddesden, said she thought the Paper Jamz Guitar was a "great" toy for both boys and girls. The group ranked the Raa Raa Treehouse Play Set at the bottom of the list.

Joseph, of Osmaston, said the toy would be better for younger children.

He said: "My favourite was the Furby, I'd have given it 100 out of 100 if I could."

Molly said she enjoyed playing with the Paper Jamz Guitar. She added: "It's the music that really got me because I'm quite a musical person.

"I play the recorder, keyboard, flute and I sing. I gave it nine out of 10."

The youngsters were appointed last month following interviews with more than 25 children who applied for the position of Head of Fun.

Now the panel will provide consultancy on all children's activities taking place at the centre over the next year.

Richard Thornton, Westfield's marketing and communications manager, said the event had been brilliant.

He said: "It was really interesting to see the children get their hands on the toys and put them through their paces. ."

TOP TEN TOYS AS VOTED FOR BY THE WESTFIELD PANEL OF FUN

1. Nerf N-Strike Deploy CS6 – a foam blaster which transforms from a torch and shoots foam darts, £12.50

2. Furby – a talking toy which speaks 'Furbish' and dances, £59.99

3. Paper Jamz Rock Guitar – a flat plastic guitar without strings which plays songs, £10

4. Bop It Smash – handheld challenge game, £16

5. VTech InnoTab 2 – learning tablet with built-in camera, £69.99

6. Tech Deck Skate and Go Park – fingerboard and skate park, £24.99

7. Elefun – butterfly catching game, £14.40

8. Marvel Superheroes Lego – The Hulk, £11

9. Cabbage Patch Kids' Doll – dolls based on the 1990s originals, £24.99

10. Raa Raa Treehouse Play Set – based on the lion from the CBeebies television show, £27.99