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Video retail sales surged to an estimated 154 million units in 2002, helped by 111% increase in DVD sales, which contributed to overall video market growth of 26%.

The figures were released by the British Video Association, which added that the figures do not include mail order, which will probably add another 12 million units to the figure.

Once again, DVD proved itself to be a hugely popular Christmas present with software sales up 87% for December.

Family entertainment dominated the top ten video chart for last year with the highest three entries being taken by Fellowship of the Ring, Harry Potter and Monsters Inc.

Top Ten UK video/DVD sales in UK in 2002

Fellowship of the Ring4 m
Harry Potter3.5 m
Monsters Inc2.5 m
Scooby Do - The Movie
Star Wars Episode 2
Ice Age
Spiderman
Ocean's Eleven
Moulin Rouge
The Fast and The Furious