Grinning like Cheshire cats, Peter and Paul Wallis are sitting proud knowing they have something almost every other family in the land wants - a Sony Playstation 2.

The Idle father and son spare a thought for all the other games fans pawing at shop windows in the vain hope of snapping up one of the systems, but only in between games of Teccan or Ready to Rumble Boxing.

"I'm trying not to be too smug about it," said 23-year-old Paul, pictured, "but it is nice knowing you have something everyone else wants."

He added: "I've been trying not to get too excited about it since Dad put down for one last month, but it's been getting harder as the day approached.

"The graphics are a lot better on this one than the original Playstation and they seem to have made the games more playable, too." Dad Peter, 51, cycled from work at Filtronic in Shipley to Dixons in Bradford to make sure he was the first on the list and on Friday handed over the £440 for the console, three games and handsets.

But some desperate shoppers are offering anything upto £600 for the basic games unit - more than double its retail price. Electronics engineer, Peter, said: "It's seems worth the effort now but I think I might have thought differently if there had been any problems.

"Dixons have been really good about it and there were no problems and we kept in contact with Sony over e-mail which kept us up to date about what was going on.

"Now I think we will be having some long sessions on the Playstation."

The house is a shrine to all things hi-tech with computers and other games consoles littered around the home. The only member of the household not rubbing their hands in glee at the thought of the new toy is mum Kathy.

"But it keeps them quiet and at least I know where they will be," said the 58-year-old, "and I hate to think what they would have been like if they hadn't got it. But I don't think they'll be getting me to join in." She added: "I do feel sorry for all those people who have not been able to get one especially if, like us, they were saving for a long time to be able to afford one."

The PS2 is not yet available on shop shelves in Britain and is only being sold to game fans who have pre-ordered, sparking fears of a black market.

Salesman Adrian Shearon, from Dixons in the Kirkgate Centre, which was allocated just 40 consoles, said some customers had already offered over the odds.

He said: "We did have a couple of people in who said they would pay more than it's worth. Somebody offered about £600 - the basic unit only costs £299."

He added that the electrical store was very strict on ensuring the game was bought at the correct retail price.