A BUMPER sale of Easter eggs is underway at a charity shop in Malmesbury. Only there aren’t any eggs. Instead of the chocolate variety Heals are selling virtual eggs.

The charity, which cares for vulnerable and disadvantaged people, hopes to persuade the public to buy 100 nonexistent eggs for £2 each from its High Street premises in order to raise £2,000 for two important causes.

In the window they have erected a 6ft high paper egg-o-meter - in the shape of a tree - to show the public how the appeal is going.

Created with the help of children from Malmesbury Primary School, it has been there for a few weeks but at the time of speaking Heals volunteer general manager Alison Cross-Jones said they had sold 39 eggs.

However, with Easter now upon us she is hoping the virtual eggs will begin to disappear off the virtual shelves at a much quicker rate as the public now had their Easter egg heads on.

“People will be thinking in terms of Easter eggs. Hopefully they will see our egg-a-meter and the poster we have in the window, and will come in and buy an egg.”

The poster urges passers-by that instead of buying a genuine Easter egg to instead shell out £2 for a virtual one. “We hope that with your generosity to raise enough money for 100 eggs,” it says.

Mrs Cross-Jones said: “Buying one of our virtual Easter eggs will help make a huge difference to someone's life.”

By April 6, when the Heals Easter Appeal winds up, they hope to be able to contribute £1,000 to the Swindon Women’s Refuge and use a similar amount to create a Malmesbury area group for adults who are vulnerable, have special educational needs or suffer from autism.

The Swindon Refuge is where victims of domestic violence in the Malmesbury area are sent. The cash will go towards a “container garden” where mums and children grow flowers and vegetables.

“Gardening can be very therapeutic,” said Mrs Cross-Jones. “Some of these women have undergone horrific ordeals.”

Funds will also enable Heals to set up a group for vulnerable people in and around Malmesbury that will enable them to meet, socialise, work as a group together and access support they are having difficulty in doing.

“This group will enable some people, who lead very isolated lives, to engage with each other and the community. It will have all sorts of benefits from boosting confidence and acquiring social skills.”

Donations can be dropped into their premises at 44 High Street. More information: 01666-238100