Children from a nursery in Ayr have been playing an imaginative supermarket play using a toy replica.

Emma Hart, senior early years practitioner at the Owls Room at Wallacetown Early Years Nursery, said the children were asked which supermarket they went to with their parents and as Asda came out on top, the nursery recreated an Asda store in the role play area.

She said the children then sketched pictures of food and posters to help decorate it.

Ms Hart added: "I called Gillian, the store manager at Asda in Ayr, to see if the staff could show us around the store. We arrived at the store and the staff were all fantastic. The children loved their visit."

They also held a colouring competition which was judged by Karen Fulton, community champion at Asda's Ayr store, who presented the winner with their prize.

Ms Fulton said: “I was delighted to visit Wallacetown Early Years Nursery. The Asda store they have created is an educational fun station that has helped the kids develop their imaginative play skills. It’s brilliant and the children love playing with it.

“The kids also had a colouring competition, and I was thrilled to reward the winner with their prize, I had a lovely day visiting the staff and kids, thank you for having me.”

Since the event, there's been an outpouring of support with heartening comments on social media praising the approach to child play.

One comment said: "What a fantastic idea to build a shop in school. Well done to everyone involved, particularly Asda colleagues, the teachers and staff who helped successfully build the Asda store.

“Well done to all the children, what a great achievement and enjoyable experience for you all!’’