A respected toy shop chain has moved into a flagship shopping centre store.

The Early Learning Centre is now open for business at M&S at Hempstead Valley.

Puzzles, jigsaws, Lego and arts and crafts are on sale along with interactive play tables to occupy young shoppers.

The Hempstead branch of M&S is one of the stores nationwide to house ELC, which has closed a number of its High Street outlets.

Suzi Price, store manager, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as one of the first stores across the country to be home to Early Learning Centre here at M&S Hempstead Valley.

"The team and I love welcoming families to our new interactive shopping experience, where little shoppers are greeted with fun in-store activities to enjoy.

"We’re proud to serve Hempstead Valley families and the opening of our new Early Learning Centre shop is a great addition to the store’s growing family product range and services.”

The partnership with Early Learning Centre is part of the ‘Brands at M&S’ strategy which offers customers access to a carefully selected group of brands and all the advantages of shopping with the M&S platform.

The brand curation, which is predominately online, is a mix of complementary products and areas M&S doesn’t have an extensive own brand range – such as toys.

The Early Learning Centre is now open at M&S Hempstead Valley with the range continuing to be sold on M&S.com and available for next day delivery and click & collect services to M&S stores nationwide.

Sainsbury's which has recently undergone a major multi-million pound refurbishment, now houses the Argos electrical store and Habitat.

Its Tu clothing range and Home section have also been updated.