CHILDREN across the district will be tucking into Easter eggs this weekend after thousands of chocolate treats were donated to companies and groups to dish out.

Yesterday (THURS), youngsters who are spending the bank holiday in hospital were visited by staff from Yorkshire Building Society (YBS).

The company collected more than 200 eggs which were donated to Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) and St Luke's Hospital.

Sharon Gaunt, who organised the collection at the company's head office on Rooley Lane, Bradford, said: "We’re absolutely thrilled to have collected so many sweet treats for children who will unfortunately be spending time in our city’s hospitals this Easter. "

Alison Kay, who works on the children’s ward at BRI, said such donations went a long way to help cheer up young patients.

"It is important children don’t miss out on the joys of special occasions throughout the year just because they’re in hospital, so we can’t thank local organisations and individuals enough for their kind donations," she added.

BRI also received more than 70 eggs from Kirsty Wigglesworth, 18, of Bolton Hall Road.

PROVIDENT Financial staff donated 500 chocolate eggs for young people's charity The Joshua Project to give out to families and children in the Great Horton area and members of Bradford Rotary West and local businesses have been collecting Easter treats for Bradford Central Foodbank who feed local people in crisis.

More than 1,000 eggs were collected in Bradford Cinderella Club's annual appeal, which this year widened so children of family's who use Bradford and Keighley's foodbanks received treats as well as youngsters in the district's children homes.

Club volunteer John Atkinson said: "We've made sure that every child who is in a children's home in the Bradford district is going to get an Easter egg.

"It's been absolutely fantastic. people are overjoyed that at this time of the year they've got something great to share."

Businesses which supported the Club's appeal included AWM, in Shipley, which donated money and Car Care Plan in Thornbury which held a collection.

The Bradford Soup Run charity and Morrisons supermarket also teamed up give out eggs.

Charity team leader Al Widdop said: "We’re very grateful to Morrisons for their generosity in providing these Easter eggs for Bradford’s homeless and we know they’ll be well received."

Staff from The Co-operative Funeralcare at Five Lane Ends, Eccleshill, collected treats for The Swain House Community Action Group's Easter egg hunt and teddy bear's picnic tomorrow.

David Nunn from The Co-operative Funeralcare said: "We’re very grateful to members of the local community and our local Co-Operative Food Stores - Bingley Five Rise, Bolton Junction, Harrogate Road, Thorpe Garth and Wrose Road - who have kindly donated eggs towards this worthy cause."

Bradford's Junior Chamber International (JCI) collected 2,335 eggs from 33 companies and schools.

Michelle Pemberton, JCI community director, said the appeal had really caught the "imagination and hearts" of people across Bradford.