A FORMER teacher and her mechanic husband have celebrated ten years in the educational supplies business by opening their first shop.

Larissa and Carl Hughes set up Primary Classroom Resources from a back bedroom while they were both working. As the business grew they acquired a warehouse and went full time.

Now the firm, which caters for teachers as well as parents and children, employs a team of nine.

But said Larissa: “We kept getting emails from people asking to come in.”

She explained there was a trend away from online shopping. People who had been disappointed with online shopping in the past valued the opportunity to examine things properly before buying them.

Because it was a working warehouse, it wasn’t possible, so when a unit became available at Studley Grange, Wroughton – home to other family oriented businesses - they decided it was the perfect place for their first store called Teach Play Learn.

Although the shop has been up and running for a month, they staged an official open day on Saturday when North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson dropped in to do the honours.

“We had lots of people through the door on the day. It was about getting people to know where we were.”

The shop, which has just introduced a range of baby toys, specialises in education materials. “We do sell toys. We’re not a toy shop. Everything has an educational purpose,” Larissa said.