TOY and video sales are out of this world this week as screen blockbusters Harry Potter and Star Wars go head-to-head in the battle for fans' cash.

Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone went on sale on Saturday on video and DVD and Basingstoke stores are reporting wizard sales.

While shops still have copies of the video available, many people bought DVDs at the weekend and wiped out stocks in Sainsbury's town centre store, leaving just a few copies of the wide-screen version.

A spokesman for the store said: "By Sunday morning the normal screen size version of Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone on DVD had completely sold out. Even I couldn't get one."

However, Potter has stiff competition as Star Wars mania also gripped the town this week. A wave of merchandise hit the shelves to coincide with yesterday's release of Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

Early signs are that the merchandise is selling well, with figures including Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker being the most popular items at The Entertainer, Woolworths and Toys R Us.

Nicola Smart, from The Entertainer in The Walks, said: "Star Wars fans don't seem to favour any one particular character. Collectors simply want them all."

Other Star Wars-related merchandise such as books, light-sabres, spaceships, backpacks, notebooks and Lego, have also been a huge hit.