Britain sells out of iPods

The number one-gadget of the year, Apple's iPod music player, has sold out almost everywhere in the country.

The iPod is the 21st century version of the Sony Walkman, and is easily spotted in use on London's streets with its distinctive white headphones.

Designed by Brit Jonathan Ive, the iPod is slightly larger that a cigarette packet and can store up to 10,000 songs. Users can download music to the player from their computer, having copied it from their own CDs or downloaded songs online.

Three versions of the iPod are available, costing between £249 and £399. Selfridges, Dixons and even stores on Tottenham Court Road - the centre for London's electronics stores - are all out of stock of the stylish gadget.

DVD players, digital cameras and memory cards for cameras are also proving massively popular, with many stores selling out of the most popular models.

Bassam Zaku is the sales manager for Harrods sound and vision department. He said: "We are just selling out of iPods as soon as we get them in. We think we have done a good job of anticipating the demand but we will definitely run out before Christmas, they are just selling incredibly well.

"It seems that in London, they are the must-have item. If you have an iPod you really are it at the moment. It's already become a cult item."

John Lewis had also sold out of the iPod, and was warning customers they may have to wait until mid January to get their hands on the product. Dan Knowles is the company's director of buying for electrical goods.

He said: "We have sold over 2,500 iPods in the run-up to Christmas, which is a lot for such a highly priced product. It just seems to have that cool factor somehow, it's a truly iconic product already. I don't think there is a secret to it, it's just a really, really good product."

However, those in the industry are unsurprised by the success. Gadget magazine Stuff voted the iPod its number-one gadget from a list of 100 products. Gary Parkinson, deputy editor, said: "There has been phenomenal interest in the iPod. I don't think we have ever experienced anything like it for a gadget."

Even Apple itself has struggled to fill orders made through its website.

A spokesman said there were working hard to get enough iPods into stores. "We are doing everything we can to increase production but as soon as we ship them in they are being sold."