The Sunderland band that nearly topped the Christmas charts

It reached number four in the charts, despite being released on a small independent Newcastle-based label, Volume Records.

The singer and guitarist of Toy Dolls was Mike “Olga” Algar, and the band still records and tours to this day.

The bass player at the time was Pete Zulu, who left the band in 1985 and now runs the Black Horse pub in Boldon, South Tyneside, with wife Sarah Reid.

“Nellie the Elephant was just a great party song, you can’t deny that,” he says.

“It was so catchy and fun. Everybody sings along. I still can’t believe that more than 500,000 went into a shop and bought it!

“How did that happen? Madness!”