WATCHING children and their parents build immaculate Lego models from scratch alongside towering models of the Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building is quite something.

You instantly get a sense of how important those little plastic bricks are to so many people. They offer endless play and are a constant source of creativity and satisfaction.

That is something the team at Bricktastic clearly recognise who filled Manchester Central’s exhibition hall with intricate models including Jamie Douglas’s 50,000-piece Palace of Westminster.

The event was also a fundraiser for Fairy Bricks which donates Lego to children in hospital.

It proved to be a great day out for all the family because while I was geeking out at the Lego recreation of Star Wars’ Battle of Hoth my son Ethan was diving into the pit where you can make your own models before he had a close encounter with a Lego Technic snake.

It was also fascinating to meet the people who have made a career on the back of Denmark’s plastic brick empire such as those who design and make custom Lego figures. When people behind events like this are so dedicated their enthusiasm is contagious meaning we left with a huge smile.

DAVID MORGAN