It’s Owen Whitelegg’s favourite place ‘in the entire world’...and who can blame him!

Kind-hearted Aldi supermarket staff put a huge smile on the autistic teenager’s face by surprising him with a special birthday present.

The 14-year-old, from Offerton, Stockport, was presented with the set of French boules wrapped in Avengers superhero-themed paper by staff members at his local branch on Lisburne Lane which he regularly visits with mum Babs.

Babs told the M.E.N. how Owen had spotted the boules set on an earlier trip to the store and had been mesmorised by it.

With his birthday fast approaching she whispered to a member of staff to put it to one side so she could return and buy it as a present.

When she came back, unfortunately the boules were nowhere to be found and she put it down to a piece of bad luck.

But she didn’t count on the Aldi workers going the extra mile to make sure Owen got what he wanted.

Babs explained: “As we were walking out of the store a few days after his birthday one of the male staff members asked how he was doing and another girl came up and said they had a birthday present for him and he was their favourite customer.

“It turned out one of them had put the boules to one side before she went away on holiday, but when she came back they had been moved and she couldn’t find them.

“She then went round every single Aldi in the area to see if they had any more and then wrapped them up. It was absolutely fantastic and he was made up.

His little face was buzzing. It really made his day because he loves Aldi. It was so lovely for the staff to take time out of their busy days and lives for my little boy. ”

She added that Owen loves the smoothness and shininess of the boules and that they were left ‘absolutely gobsmacked’ by the staff’s thoughtful present.

The teen, who attends Castle Hill High School, visits the store daily with his mum and regularly interacts with the friendly staff.

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Babs, who is his full-time carer, said: “Most kids want to go to the park but he loves going to Aldi. From the minute the store opened two years ago he just took to the staff in there. He’s always chatting with them.

“Even if they are really stressed they will always stop what they are doing and have a chat with him. He’s got no friends and in his mind Aldi is his friend.

“There are no beeps on the tills, no music and no loud shouts or store announcements so it’s always quite quiet.

“If I went to any other supermarket he would either scream or refuse to go in or make it very awkward.”

Babs, 42, posted a picture on Aldi’s Facebook page of smiling Owen holding his birthday present with a thank you message to the ‘amazing staff’.

She wrote: “My son has autism and Aldi Offerton is his most favourite place in the entire world. Your staff there go above and beyond to make my son’s daily visits to Aldi extra special. They are so patient and kind with him. It has made his day today.

“You should be very proud of your staff, Warren, Shauna and Sani especially, and the entire workforce there too.

“Every single one of them take time out to talk to him and make him feel valued. We really appreciate it. I have one very happy boy. Your staff are amazing.”

Replying to the message, Aldi posted: “This is so lovely to hear, and we will be sure to pass your kind words onto the Offerton team. Please also wish your son Happy Birthday from us.”