A WORCESTER retailer was celebrating this week after being named the top franchisee out of a total of 40 stores.

Formative Fun, in Charles Street, sells educational toys for children from birth to 14 years old.

Owners Mark and Heather Stewart started the business just over three years ago.

They received their accolade on Sunday, at the annual Formative Fun conference at the company's head office, in Bridport, Dorset.

The award is based on a number of criteria, including turnover in the past 12 months and promoting brand awareness.

Mr and Mrs Stewart had already started up a store called Anything Left-Handed, in Worcester's New Street, in 1994, after not being able to find a pair of left-handed scissors for their son, Robert, then four years old.

In 1999, the couple came across Formative Fun. They liked it so much they decided to combine both businesses in one shop and moved around the corner to bigger premises in Charles Street.

-"We liked what Formative Fun do," said Mr Stewart, a qualified teacher.

"It's all education-focused and with all the education bits and pieces we had been doing for Anything Left-Handed it was a good fit."

He said Formative Fun was different from other toy shops.

"Everything has some sort of educational value and I think that's what parents are moving towards.

"The toys are fun to use but help children to learn, fulfilling two needs. We thought Worcester was ready for it."