IF trying to get your kids outside on a rainy summer’s day isn’t your idea of fun then help is at hand with a series of family days at a popular Southampton shopping centre.

The countdown to The Marlands Shopping Centre’s Summer Fun Fridays is now on, with the first free event kicking off on July 28.

The Civic Centre Road venue will host five weeks of free seaside-themed activities, entertainment and prize competitions for all the family.

The first event takes place on July 28 when youngsters can join in the Marwell Zoo construction club and help make LEGO® penguins to appear in the Brick Safari running at Marwell this summer.

Children can pick up the first club sticker for their Beach Passport as members of the Summer Fun Club, with great prizes up for grab.

Then the following week they can enjoy a day of swash-buckling adventures with pirate fun and story-telling, meet up with new club friends and collect their next club sticker on August 4.

Free fun for all budding young artists to try out sand art modelling, and collect their third club sticker takes place on August 11.

Then a week later there is a day of free Punch & Judy shenanigans. Enjoy sandcastle-building on the indoor beach, enter the prize seaside selfie competition and pick up the next sticker for your Beach Passport, exclusive to Summer Fun Club members on August 18.

The last day is a free seaside-themed cookie-decorating workshop, with delicious treats to take home.

Kids will get a fun club sticker to complete their collection and be in with a chance to win prizes, as well as entering the selfie competition with more prizes up for grabs.

Julie Warren, The Marlands deputy manager, said: “We know it can be difficult – and expensive – to entertain the family during the school summer holidays, so we are bringing all the fun of a traditional seaside holiday to Southampton whatever the weather!

“With so much going on it will be great to see everyone enjoying themselves at the centre all summer.”