Fun can soon turn to frustration for Lego fans confronted by an age-old problem - the missing brick.

Help is at hand with the opening of a new shop which aims to solve the dilemma and, in a unique move, let visitors play away to their hearts content at the same time.

Lego in Churchill Square, Brighton, opened yesterday and is only the fifth in the UK dedicated to the toy which has captured the hearts of millions worldwide.

Generations of children and the young and heart have embraced the little plastic blocks as a way of life and now the city has become the first in the world to offer a free space for fans to enjoy.

The workshop, or club room, offers the chance for shoppers to play all day, creating hundreds of different brick builds.

Dominic Galvin, Lego senior vice-president in global brand retail, said: "We had some additional space in the store so we decided to turn it over to the creative imaginations of local Lego fans.

"We want our customers to feel at home in our stores. Lego fans and families can come in, get creative, have fun and play together with the full range of Lego products.

"Brighton is known for its imagination and creativity. The city has a worldwide reputation for being vibrant and free spirited. It is a perfect place to inspire self expression."

The store has also come up with a cure for missing brick misery.

Lego fans can now buy a multitude of individual blocks to replace the one that got away, thanks to a new pick-a-brick section.

Shoppers can chose from 72 different bricks and elements in 15 different colours. No longer limited to red and green, even shocking pink and purple bricks are up for grabs.

Deputy store manager Kara Jarvis said: "The pick-a-brick section should be a real success. There are two sizes of cups which you can fill up with all the bricks you want - from door frames to flowers."

Shoppers were impressed by the store.

Nadja Janssen, from Hove, visited with her son Boris, nine, who has more than 5,000 Lego bricks at home.

She said: "The pick-a-brick is a brilliant idea. So often we see just the brick Boris wants but it is in a £25 box set. This way, he can just pick what he wants."

Older Lego fans also paid a visit.

Among them was Huw Millington, 40, from East Grinstead, who is a member of the Brickish Association for adults who make Lego sculptures.

He said: "I'm very impressed. The pick-a-brick section will be particularly useful for me. The workshop sounds very interesting and it may well be an area I make use of."

The father-of-two is in the process of constructing part of a moon base, which will form part of a huge Lego build when linked up to other bases made by fellow association members.