Bazaar

Bestsellers Top 10 items sold at The Leading Edge

If you are one of those people who gives their friends useless gadgets for Christmas, look no further than your nearest The Leading Edge shop or mail-order catalogue. These were their best-selling products last month:

1 Miracle thaw defrosting tray.........................................................pounds 9.99

2 Mini shiatsu massager...............................................................pounds 29.99

3 Voice It (memo recorder).......................................................... pounds 69.99

4 FM Sounds mini radio (world's smallest)...................................pounds 29.99

5 Tsubo massager (uses heat and vibration)...............................pounds 149.99

6 Voice organiser 1024K ............................................................pounds 159.99

7 Living Reef fish tank (with electric fish).....................................pounds 49.99

8 Bottle pal (bottle cooler)..............................................................pounds 4.99

9 Flashcard torch (the world's thinnest).........................................pounds 4.99

10 Keylight keyring....................................................................... pounds 14.99

The Leading Edge has concessions at Harrods and Selfridges and London shops in Whiteleys, Liverpool Street station and Windsor. For mail-order call 0171-229 3338

Good thing / Mad thing

Vac-Man, about pounds 28.99

Vac-Man is the arch-enemy of Stretch Armstrong, from the US cartoon strip. After pumping the air out, his red rubber body can be extended to strange and disgusting lengths, turning him with one deeply therapeutic wrench from a Henry Moore to a Giacometti. Then simply press the vacuum release button on the side of his head and he shrinks back to "normal". The instructions warn against "excessive abuse" but the Independent did manage to puncture its Vac-Man almost immediately. However any damage can be repaired and it should be noted that stiletto heels were involved... From Argos, Toys R Us, Hamleys or any good toy shop

SPECIAL OFFER: A free Vac-Man to the first 10 Independent readers to send a postcard bearing the name of Stretch Armstrong's canine companion to Vac-Man competition, Weekend Dept, The Independent, Canary Wharf, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5DL.