Aldi launches wooden toy collection in a bid to lure middle-class shoppers from John Lewis this Christmas (and it costs just a fraction of its high street rival's offering)

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Christmas can be an expensive time for parents desperate to keep their little darlings happy when they unwrap their presents under the tree.

But discount supermarket Aldi insist families need not blow their budgets on expensive gifts this year.

The German retail giant has unveiled plans to lure middle-class shoppers from the likes of John Lewis by launching a range of cut-price wooden toys just in time for Christmas.

Launching today, the Aldi range offers savings of up to £110 compared to similar toys available at John Lewis, including wooden kitchen appliances, toy cars, classic dolls' houses and train sets.

German supermarket giant Aldi has taken on John Lewis in the battle of Christmas toys - so can you tell which is which? Aldi's Little Town Wooden Rocking Horse (right) costs £27.99 and makes real animal sounds - compared to John Lewis's My First Rocking Horse (left, currently on offer at £71.25 down from £95) which boasts a plush body and leatherette saddle

The supermarket has launched its new range to capitalise on a nostalgic surge in popularity for wooden toys, which are expected to be big sellers ahead of Christmas this year.

A large wooden kitchen set at Aldi is available for just £29.99 - 76 per cent cheaper than the £125 'country play kitchen' sold by John Lewis.

The supermarket's premium wooden kitchen costs £69.99, presenting a saving of £110 against the John Lewis Janod Macaron Big Kitchen Wooden Playset, which costs £179.99.

A set of three wooden trucks from Aldi costs £4.99, compared to £18 in John Lewis, while their train set is available for £14.99 - half of the £30 price tag charged by John Lewis.

Julie Ashfield, managing director for corporate buying at Aldi, said: 'Our range of wooden toys has become increasingly popular in recent years with the whole range selling out online in less than a week in 2016.

Aldi's Little Town Wooden Dolls House is just £27.99 (left) compared to John Lewis's Leckford House Wooden Doll's House (right currently down from £100 to £75 in the sale) which features a pink door, Georgian windows, and opens on both sides

Aldi's Premium Wooden Kitchen costs £69.99 (right) and comes with an opening and shutting oven and polka dot wallpaper; compared to its £179.99 John Lewis counterpart (left) which includes a 'fried egg' and seven cardboard food boxes

Aldi's Wooden Vehicles cost £4.99 each at a total cost of £14.97 for a set (right) while John's Lewis's three-piece set costs £18 (left). Julie Ashfield, managing director for corporate buying at Aldi, said the range had become more and more popular

Aldi's Wooden Railway Road Set (left) is a snip at £14.99 compared to John Lewis's £30 Wooden Train Set (right). According to Aldi, the whole range sold out online in less than a week in 2016

Aldi's Large Wooden Kitchen (right) costs just £29.99 compared to its John Lewis counterpart which is £125 (left) - a total saving of £95.01. The new range comes as buyers notice an 'increased call' for wooden toys based on modern appliances

'This year, we're set to launch an even bigger and better range of wooden toys for Christmas.

'We have also noticed an increased call for wooden toys that are based on modern kitchen appliances, as children love to mimic their parents.

'To meet this demand, we have introduced new wooden play versions of the gadgets found in kitchens up and down the country, including an espresso machine, stand mixer and even a smoothie maker.'

Aldi's new spins on classic toys, including pirate ships and a workbench, use wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.