Carleton community go above and beyond to bring a smile to children's faces at Easter

Residents decorated their houses and left treated outside for children to collect in their baskets.

Organisers Jemma Ladwitch and Emma Langdon-Hardwicke said the community went above and beyond in making the day so special for the children.

Plans for the egg hunt began in the weeks leading up to Easter, when Emma suggested to Jemma that the pair pitch a community activity for the children over the Easter holidays.

Emma said: “I was sitting at home thinking through some ideas that would be good for the children to take part in.

“My son Reuben is three and I know with the pandemic things are still a bit boring for him and the rest of the kids.

“So I asked Jemma if she could help me organise an Easter egg hunt - she’s done a lot of these community events over lockdown, so she’s great at rounding up the troops.

“It was a really successful day, people online were saying how good it was, so I think it’ll be good to do more activities for the children as lockdown eases.

“In the pandemic I think the community has come together a lot more, everyone was saying hello and waving at each other on the day which was really nice to see.”

Lucy Hatton, from community group Pontefract Rocks, got involved by painting and decorating rocks and pebbles with Easter themes and laid them in a trail for children to find.

More rocks were added to the trail by the children, who spent the Saturday painting and decorating their own.

Jemma said: “I was so surprised and overwhelmed with the amount of people who participated in the area and how nice it was for children.

“I drew a hopscotch outside and put plenty of bunting up.

“At first I was a bit sceptical because I didn’t know how many people would want to join in.

“But on Saturday I looked outside, and just before 10am, everyone was putting their bunting up and putting chocolate and sweets at the end of their drives.

“Everyone was so happy with the event, there’s been loads of good feedback on the Facebook page so I think we’ll have to make a little committee to plan future events like this one.”

As well as decorating house windows and leaving treats for the children, the people of Carleton went out of their way to make it an Easter the local children would never forget.

Anna Blight, of the Banks Avenue Little Free Library, set out a selection of free books and ensured every child took one home.

A sack race egg, an egg and spoon race and a pin the tail on the bunny game on Sides Road by Liz Booth.

And Lisa Hulse set up an Easter picture frame, which children could get their photo taken in for the chance to be entered in a draw to win a prize.

And a visit from the Easter bunny made the community organised Easter egg hunt in Carleton a weekend to remember.