The current craze in meerkats has spread to the charity shops as a mug, mouse-mat and coaster featuring the animal have become the best-selling Christmas gift for the British Red Cross.

The items, which come in the wake of famous TV meerkat Aleksandr Orlov, have risen over £10,000 for the charity in total. Since the adverts for comparethemarket.com were first shown, the interest in meerkats has shot up.

Paul Thompson, British Red Cross head of retail commented:

“When we selected our Christmas gift range six months ago we did not think that the TV advert would have an impact on sales, but it clearly has.

Our meerkat mug, mouse mat and coasters have already raised over ten thousand pounds for the British Red Cross and it is still one month until Christmas” 
 
The gifts themselves show three meerkats standing on their hind-legs.