A new college shop run by students with learning disabilities has been officially opened.

The Paint Pots Shop is now open in Harrow College’s Harrow Weald campus specialising in art and crafts materials including hand-painted mirrors, brooches, notebooks and jewellery.

The shop was opened on Tuesday by the Mayor of Harrow Councillor Nana Asante, who was shown some of the products on offer.

All the handmade goods sold by the shop will be made by students from learning difficulties and disabilities courses.

The college hopes the store will teach students new skills such as customer service, stock taking, building business initiatives and meeting with members of the community.

Lecturer Johanne Narayn said: “Our students have been working towards this day since the beginning of their courses in January.

“They have been developing show-related skills and working on production of handmade arts and crafts to sell.

“The skills they’ll learn in running the Paint Pots shop will be invaluable to them in later life.”