Family Easter egg hunt brings Pontefract street together

On Easter Sunday, over 30 households on a Pontefract street took part in a social distancing Easter egg hunt

The hunt was set up by Sam O’brien and her family who live Lynwood Crescent, who had wanted to set up an Easter egg hunt on the street for the last few years, to bring the community together.

Sam said: “We’ve been meaning to do it for years, as we don’t know many of our neighbours, it just takes one person to bring everyone together.

“My daughter and I wrote invitation letters and I made a Facebook group with details, and a lot of people joined wanting to get involved.

“We asked those who wanted to get involved if they would put eggs in the garden with gloves or a tissue, for children to collect as they came around.”

To make the Easter egg hunt non-contact, the children and families went around to each house in a clockwise circle.

More than 30 families joined in.

Sam said: “It was a brilliant day for everyone, there were so many people out talking to each other across the gardens, some for the first time in 20 years.

“The gardens and windows in the street were so nicely decorated, it’s a really simple concept that brought a lot of joy.”

Since the Facebook group was set up, those involved are doing weekly activities, like rock painting and treasure hunting.

Sam said: “There was a euphonium performance in the middle of the street for the NHS clap and so many people came out to watch and applaud.

“Neighbours have also been helping each other out by shopping for one and other.”