CROWDS of brick enthusiasts, from toddlers to adult collectors, visited Westquay's colourful new Lego store on Thursday.

Not just regular lego sets but also specially-themed Friends, Star Wars and Halloween builds filled the shop, along with interactive screens allowing visitors to see a lego set come to life in 3D.

Manager Sara Baker said: "It's been really busy from the moment we opened. The biggest thing is how you can have toddlers and grown adults in this store. In fact, most people in the queue today were adult lego enthusiasts. We have made it really interactive for toddlers, and you can pick up any set and see its end product straight away."

Shopper Tyrone Love, who starred as a storm trooper in the Star Wars films, said: "It's right on our doorstep here as I used to have to go to Brighton. This store doesn't just sell sets, but it also provides mini figurines and the Pick and Brick. I have three rooms filled with lego, as well as a garage."

Claire Sivyour, who said she owns £40,000 worth of Star Wars lego, said: "I think it's brilliant to have a Lego store in Southampton. I can walk in here and play with the lego and no-one would look at me strange. The only time I go out on my own is to go and buy Lego."

Diane Radford, who visited with her son Connor, said: "My son has saved his birthday money in September just for this. I think it's amazing."