Pre-orders for Nintendo's Wii Fit game are outstripping supply as major retailers report shortages ahead of next week's launch.

Five of the UK's biggest games retailers - Play.com, Amazon.co.uk, Game.co.uk, Shopto.net and Zavvi.co.uk - have all been forced to turn away customers looking to buy the game and its bundled Wii Balance Board.

"We are currently sold out on this item. All orders will be dispatched as soon as possible," read the response at Play.com.

Nintendo is advising customers to "shop around" and claimed that it had warned retailers of potential shortages several weeks ago.

"All retailers in the UK and Ireland have been aware of their Wii Fit allocations for launch since early March and as such we would see any stopping of pre-orders a sensible precaution on their part to ensure all current orders are met," Nintendo said in a statement released to games website GamesIndustry.biz.

"Many retailers are still accepting pre-orders and we would advise people to shop around to secure their copy."

The Wii Fit and its Wii Balance Board, an accessory developed exclusively for the Nintendo console, will launch across Europe on 25 April priced at £69 in the UK.