John Stuart Funeral Directors in Devizes are appealing for Easter eggs to donate to children in hospital.

It is the second Easter egg collection run by the company and, following the success of the selection box collection at Christmas, the Melksham branch is also doing a collection.

This year the company is aiming to collect around 500 Easter eggs that will be delivered on Good Friday to children's wards at Salisbury District Hospital and Swindon's Great Western Hospital as well as the Devizes Foodbank.

Charlotte Stacey, Devizes funeral arranger, said: “Both branches have had a brilliant response already and our offices have been taken over with Easter eggs and other chocolatey treats.

“We have had more than 200 chocolate eggs, all of all shapes and sizes, donated so far along with cuddly chickens for children unable to have chocolate.

“The community have really come together, whether it be donating the Easter eggs or helping us advertise, and one lady has even knitted us little chickens that have a cream egg inside.”

Eggs can be donated by dropping them into either the Devizes or Melksham branches between now and April 2.

For more details ring the Devizes branch on (01380) 729459 or Melksham on (01225) 433649.