The Centra shop on Vevay Road in Bray has kindly offered to be a base for local schoolchildren waiting for their parents to pick them up.

The convenience store also said pupils from the nearby primary and secondary schools that run out of credit can use its landline phone to call home.

It comes as thousands of youngsters return to schools after the summer holidays.

The shop wrote on Facebook: "Hi Parents and Students, as in other years we would like to remind you with schools back and the darker evenings approaching if there is an emergency like your child misses the bus or has no credit to ring you, please tell them to come to our shop rather than have them hang around outside.

"They can call you from the shop and wait for you here. It's an option to keep in mind so they are safe."

In 2019 the popular Bray shop was awarded for excellence in hygiene and food safety, taking home a Q Mark Level 2 Sapphire Award.

For the latest news and breaking news visit dublinlive.ie/news.

Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter @DublinLive - the official Dublin Live Twitter account - real news in real time.

We're also on Facebook/dublinlive - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the capital.

To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up for our free newsletter