A MUM whose autistic three-year-old son used to have regular meltdowns while shopping has praised the “incredible human” who now means he loves his trips to Asda.

Three-year-old Hudson now loves Asda so much he has created his own mini-store at home and pops into Darlington’s Neasham Road shop up to four times a week.

Bex Wickens, his mum, praised Asda worker Mags Lunn for how she treats Hudson.

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She said: "Mags truly is an incredible human – I love watching how they are together. Other shoppers must think she's his Nana – if only I had a pound for every time he spoke about her!

"Hudson hunts her down every time we go shopping and goes back in at least five times to hug her – which is special in itself because he’s not all that big on affection.

"She’s just always totally amazing with him. She’s witnessed the meltdowns that shopping used to cause and made him feel at ease in an environment he’d usually find overwhelming."

The Northern Echo:

Hudson has been going to the store since November 2020 but used to find the experience overwhelming, having meltdowns on almost every visit.

But after getting a toy Asda basket and doing role play at home he has become more comfortable with the experience.

And more his third birthday he got his own Asda checkout, trolley and shelves.

The Northern Echo:

Bex added: "He lives and breathes all things Asda and Asda and George were the first words he learnt to spell. Our followers were as invested as I was in finding new products to make him happy. We had a nationwide search to find him a toy home delivery van and the Asda and George wagons – and Asda head office also sent him them so now he has a whole fleet."

Colleagues also gave him lanyards and names badges which he proudly wears every time he visits the store.

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Now every time Hudson visits, colleagues let him scan his own shopping and go on the checkouts.

Bex said: "He's mastered all the buttons on the self service a long time ago but now knows exactly what to press on the big checkout too.

"He's served quite a few customers now too. When the delivery wagon is round the back of the store he's quick to go check it out; he got the chance to sit in one a couple of months back."

Mags, who's 60 and has a son, Mark, and three grandchildren, has worked for Asda for 20 years.

She said: "Hudson really is such a sweet little boy – he's just so adorable. There's just something about him. He's such a lovely lad. He makes my heart melt.

"One of my grandsons is autistic so that is why I feel I relate to Hudson so much.

The Northern Echo:

"He always does his own shopping now and he's very big on his pork pies. He can sit on the till now and he puts his stuff through. Everyone loves him here."

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

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