July 18, 2006, London: With the hottest day in UK history set to strike tomorrow, Brighton beach looks more like Benidorm and British parks are packed with bronzed bikini bodies playing traditional summer games - and it's not just kids who are likely to soak you with water this summer, according to Amazon.co.uk. This year's big summer trend for young and old alike looks like being water pistols, according to sales data from the leading online retailer.

Sales of the summer favourites have rocketed 850% since January, the biggest surge in sales seen in years and confirming the shift away from indoor pursuits first highlighted by Amazon.co.uk with The Dangerous Book for Boys.

It's all a long way from what water pistols used to be like, though. With new weapons being able to shoot at distances of well over 20 feet, the term 'water rifles' might be more appropriate. And with London's first water pistol 'war' set to hit the streets on 25th July - in the form of StreetWars (http://streetwars.net/index.php) - it looks as though we're in for a good few months of high-octane, long range water warfare.

"Sales of water pistols are traditionally higher over the summer months, as one would expect," says Paul Sanders, Toy Buyer at Amazon.co.uk, "but demand this year has really skyrocketed. We're seeing a modern twist on old pastimes, and it seems that a whole new generation of kids and adults will be staying out for the summer with their water weapons in tow".

For further information please contact the Amazon.co.uk press office on 020 8636 9280.

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