YOUNG shoppers took the stores with a smile and a colourful face thanks to an Easter weekend charity initiative.

Managers at St George’s Shopping Centre, in St Ann’s Road, Harrow, hired professional face painters to sketch designs onto children in return for a donation to St Luke’s Hospice.

More than 60 youngsters took advantage and £110 was raised for the Kenton-based charity that cares for the terminally ill in Harrow and Brent.

Darren Harman, the centre’s manager, said: “Despite being in hard times, it’s great to see that St George’s shoppers are generous and charitable towards the good causes they care about.”

The hospice’s director of fundraising, Pam Russell, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to St George’s and to all the generous shoppers who donated over the weekend.

“Every penny will help our patients to enjoy the best possible quality of life during the last stages of their illness and will help the hospice to support their families and friends at what can be a very difficult time.”