Wendy wants to be able to communicate fully with customers

Wendy Campbell, 56, has already taught herself simple phrases so that she can say "hello", "goodbye" and "thank you" to migrant workers using the store.

The number of Poles in the Highlands has risen to about 5,000 in two years.

Wendy, who works in Tesco Metro, said: "If you can speak to them in their own language, even if it's just a greeting, it provides such a welcome."

She added: "I like to go that little step further to provide customers with a service."

Wendy, from Beauly, is no stranger to foreign languages having already grasped Spanish.

'Good thought'

After going to evening classes and studying a phrasebook, she can greet Polish shoppers with 'hello' (dzien dobry), 'goodbye' (do widzenia), 'thank you' (dziekuie), 'you're welcome' (prosze), as well as 'good evening' (dobry wieczor).

Wendy said: "The Polish people appreciate the effort. A lot of them come especially to my till. I wish I was more fluent.

"There are obviously a lot of eastern European people coming into the country and I thought it would be a nice touch to help them out, even if it's just a little greeting."

A Tesco spoklesman said: "It shows really good thought from our member of staff.