The toy and game maker said retail demand for its products over the festive period 'was very strong' and was expected to continue throughout 2007, mainly through its Dr Who range.

In a trading update yesterday Character Group said it expected to exceed market expectations for the financial year because of demand for lines including Dr Who and new introductions including Dragonfly, Bindees and Movin and Groovin Flowers.

Character Group launched its Dr Who range of toys in 2005.
Products include a Cyberman voice changer helmet; radio controlled 12-inch figures of the Daleks; a talking Tardis money box; and Dr Who's sonic screwdriver.

Character also holds the licence to distribute toys from the children's spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures, due to air on screens in the autumn.

Other product lines developed by Character Group include Scooby Doo and Roboraptor.

The company said it had benefited from a successful reception at the London Toy Fair in January, which helped it strengthen relationships with its main trading partners.

The Surrey-based group said sales of its voice-changer cyberman helmets, which won the Toy of the Year title at the London Toy Fair last month, topped 100,000 in the six months leading up to Christmas.
Following the success of its range of Doctor Who toys, which also includes action figures, a talking Tardis money bank and a radio controlled K9, Character said sales in its continuing business grew by 35 per cent in the first five months of the year.
The group expects results for the year to be ahead of current market expectations.