A mum says supermarket staff have made her autistic son feel valued by going out of their way to help.

Nine-year-old Calum Coghlan and his mother Angela are regular shoppers at the Swinton store where they have struck up some warm friendships with staff.

Angela believes the kindness shown by workers there has helped her son feel more valued and helped to build his confidence.

With high functioning autism, routine is very important to the youngster and he’s very particular about what he does day to day.

His autism makes it very difficult for him to understand his feelings which often leave him upset and frustrated especially when routines change.

Angela wrote a heartfelt letter to the store to thank them for what they do with her son - including letting him scan shopping at the checkout.

She says Calum’s warming attachment to pizza counter colleague, Maddison Greenhaigh, who routinely helps him make his own pizza to take home every Monday, has done wonders for her son, both in and out of school.

Angela, from Swinton, said: “They’re all such great people at the Swinton store and really go out of their way to make Calum feel important and happy.

"It means so much to Calum’s dad and I that colleagues at the store go beyond what’s needed. They’ve given him a purpose in life and aspirations for the future.

"The staff have installed in him that he’s worthy as a person and always has a role helping them in store.

"Before all of this, Calum’s confidence was really low and he even believed that people and other children at school didn’t like him. Now he’s enjoying school.

"We’ve seen a big change in Calum since he’s become friendly with the staff and I simply cannot thank them enough for putting the smile on his face that we haven’t seen in a long time."

Store bosses were so overwhelmed to receive Angela's letter that they decided to surprise Calum with a gift bundle, a pizza with his name on it and his very own Asda colleague T-shirt and a personalised apron, which left him gobsmacked.

Store manager Chris Baxter said: "Calum has become familiar with many of the colleagues here at Asda Swinton. They are such a lovely bunch and really give the world to him every time he visits; he’s charmed just about everyone.

"We wanted to do something nice for Calum and really make him part of the team, and this seemed like the perfect way to do it."