THEY were billed as being designed to stimulate and educate young minds.

The only trouble was, the alphabet building bricks contained howlers that even the most academically-challenged schoolboy would have been embarrassed over.

Next to a picture of a brolly was the word `Umberlla' and a boat was accompanied with the word `Yatch'. There was even an `X' Mas Tree.

Suzanne Toulson, who bought the bricks at Morrisons, in Dukinfield, for her nine-month-old grandaughter Millie, said: "There are only 26 words on these toys. You'd think they'd be able to get them all right."

The £3.22 toys were made in China and stocked in many of Morrisons 382 stores But despite the misspelled words, store bosses initially refused to take the toys off the shelves.

Mrs Toulson, of Cheetham Hill Road, Dukinfield, was told that replacement toys without the errors were on order but stores would continue to sell them until stocks had run dry.

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Mrs Toulson said: "I took the bricks to the manager. They are very much presented as educational toys and I told him that they simply didn't do their job if the spelling on them was wrong.

"When I contacted their customer services, they told me that new stocks were on their way but they were not going to withdraw the ones with mistakes but let them `fizzle out' instead. I couldn't believe their attitude.

"I have been back to my local store and there are at least a dozen toys on the shelves which still have the same mistake."

But after the M.E.N. contacted Morrisons, the decision was reversed.

A spokeswoman said: "The children's soft blocks have been withdrawn from sale in all stores. Customers can return the products to store for a full refund.

"Morrisons apologises for any inconvenience caused and the issue is being investigated with suppliers."

But the company's delay in acting on the concerns was criticised by language champions.

Chrissie Maher, founder of Plain English Campaign, says: "If a major name like Morrisons can't get their ABC right, what chance do our children have to learn their Ps and Qs.

"Morrisons need to go back to school."