TOYS with educational value are in demand from parents looking to give their children a good start.

And a new store in Durham aims to help parents make the most of childhood.

It is run by Angela Crow, who began by selling toys from the Formative Fun range to groups of mothers at schools and nurseries in the Durham area.

Such was the interest that she has now opened a store in a former jewellery shop in Claypath, near the city centre.

Angela, who has a teenage son, said: "Everything we sell has a learning value, with a few fun items thrown in."