ARGOS and Amazon are running low on puzzles as families who face weeks of isolation and working from home look for ways to keep themselves entertained.
With children off school, many parents are keen to find ways to while away the hours before bedtime.
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And adults faced with a slowdown in work and no social life are similarly trying to fill their potentially empty days.
As a result, jigsaws have become an unlikely star of the last few weeks – but many retailers are running low on stock.
Here are some of the best puzzles we’ve found online.
Best 1000 piece puzzles
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This tiger jigsaw presents a nice challenge, with lots of the same colour pieces to work with.
And at just £7 for 1000 pieces, it is a real bargain – perfect to do on a wet Sunday afternoon.
Delivery costs £2.99, or it is free if you order is worth more than £30.
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Disney Frozen panorama, £16.00, Debenhams – buy now
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Maybe Disney is just for kids, but this amazing Frozen 1000-piece panorama puzzle will entertain the whole family.
It will definitely keep you busy for a few hours.
Delivery costs £3.49 or it is free on orders of £50 or over.
Best for adults
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Our British Birds, £8.99, Waterstones – buy now
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If you can’t quite tackle 1000 pieces, this cute 500-piece bird puzzle might be a more achievable challenge.
Waterstones has quite a few jigsaws left in stock but you’ll have to move fast, as they are proving extremely popular.
Don’t forget you will also need to factor in delivery costs to your order.
Delivery is free for orders over £20, but if your order is less than that, it costs £2.75 to have it sent second class.
Best for teens
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Harry Potter Hogwarts Edition, £12.99, IWOOT.co.uk – buy now
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Any Potter-mad teenager will enjoy this tricky puzzle.
With 1000 pieces, it is hard enough to keep them occupied for a while, but is still a fun way to spend a few afternoons.
Delivery to your home costs £2.99, or if you spend more than £30 it is free.
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Dinosaur gathering, £10.50, The Yorkshire Jigsaw Store – buy now
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This 500-piece puzzle might appeal to those who fancy taking on a bit of a project – and potentially getting their parents to help.
It is worth checking out other puzzles on family-run The Yorkshire Jigsaw Store site, which seems to have plenty of stock.
Delivery costs £2.99, and is free for orders over £25, so you might like to order a couple of puzzles while you are at it!
Best for children
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Disney Princess puzzle, £8.99, John Lewis – buy now
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This puzzle might be good for slightly younger kids as with only 100 pieces it is not too tricky.
The pieces are also extra large, making it simple to put together.
And with its bright princess picture, it is bound to be a hit.
John Lewis charges £3.50 for delivery, or it is free on orders over £50.
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Paddington Bear set of four, £5.99, Gulliver’s Toys and Gifts – buy now
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This set of four puzzles has jigsaws with 12, 16, 20 and 24 pieces, making them ideal for smaller children.
Each puzzle shows a different scene with Paddington Bear, which are sure to make you smile.
Delivery costs £3.99 or is free for orders over £20.
Best for toddlers
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London Dinosaur Bus cardboard puzzle, £7, Jojo Maman Bebe – buy now
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With 16 large pieces that create dinosaurs riding a big red London bus scene when put together, this puzzle is a fun family activity that also helps develop kids’ dexterity and memory skills.
The instructions say it is suitable for children aged two and over – so it could be the perfect gift for a toddler in your life.
Standard delivery is £3.95 on orders under £35, or free for orders over that amount.
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Dinosaur two-piece puzzles, £7, Hamleys – buy now
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This simple puzzle is perfect for tiny tots.
It is a collection of six chunky puzzles which are perfect for small hands – and they will enjoy matching the colourful characters.
Delivery is £3.99, or free if you spend £45 or more.
Best 3-D puzzles
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National Geographic Ocean puzzle, £11, Lookagain.co.uk – buy now
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A must for the shark fans in your family!
This 150-piece jigsaw puzzle is fun, colourful and make a great piece of art when it is finished.
Delivery costs £3.99 – so don’t forget to factor that into your budget.
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VW T1 campervan, The Yorkshire Jigsaw Store, £21.99 – buy now
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Build a classic Volkswagen T1 camper with red and white paint – and of course with a surfboard on the roof rack.
The puzzle is made up of 162 solid plastic puzzle pieces which fit together to form a three-dimensional vehicle without needing any glue.
It will cost £2.99 to deliver, but if you order more than £25 worth of products, delivery is free.
Online shopping and deliveries have continued, even since the UK has been in lockdown.
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Meanwhile, energy firms have warned of blackouts plunging coronavirus lockdown Brits into darkness.
