DIY took on a whole new meaning as top bosses from B&Q decided to do it themselves.

A total of 50 staff from the firm's head office in Chandler's Ford left their suits at home and donned the famous black and orange uniform to go back on the shop floor.

For the first time in the company's history, board members and directors spent the day serving customers while store staff were shipped off for a day bowling.

The team-building exercise was designed to give head office staff a chance to see for themselves what is involved in the daily running of a store as well as speaking to customers.

Even chief executive, Ian Cheshire, had his apron on. He said: "The idea is to get 50 staff from head office working together in a team-building exercise.

"Rather than ship us all off to climb a mountain, we thought it would be more beneficial to come to the store and actually work on the shop floor."

The day began at 4.30am when store staff gave the newcomers a couple of hours' training. Then they bid farewell and left them to their own devices.

Dave Elliott, buying director at B&Q for four and a half years, said: "It was a bit of a surprise as we were only told yesterday we were doing this but it has been great fun. It takes me back a few years.

"It is important to understand the effort that every store puts in and to see how we can help. It also gets us closer to customers which is really important."

Keeping a watchful eye on the new recruits' was Karl Easton, general manager of the Ipswich store, and he was impressed with how they coped.

He said: "It has gone extremely well and I am really pleased and pleasantly surprised on how well they have done and how hard they are working.

"The difference I have noticed is on the knowledge side of things. Usually we have dedicated staff who know everything about products.

The team also got the thumbs-up from customers. Estelle Jenkins, 72, of Heath North Road in Locks Heath, said: "I have never seen so many members of staff. A very nice man offered to take our items to the car which was brilliant."

Carole Humphries, 65, a shop assistant, from Hard Way in Gosport, agreed: "We have received lovely treatment - very polite and very obliging.

"They are really helping people in the store, getting down on their hands and knees to help if need be. It's absolutely brilliant and nice to get great service for a change."