PUPILS at a Southampton school are celebrating taking an early lead in the Daily Echo-backed Shop for Schools promotion.

The competition gives schools the chance of winning £500 worth of equipment – simply by shopping at the Marlands centre in Southampton.

Each time a purchase is made in one of the shops within the centre, the pounds spent can be converted into points which are then allocated to the school of the shopper’s choice.

The school with the most points at the end of the competition next month is the winner.

The front runner so far is Sholing Infant School, where pupils were already coming up with ideas on how they would spend the money.