THE Easter bunny has visited a family of hungry seals - with a delivery of mackerel flavoured eggs.

Keepers at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth, North Tyneside, devised the special Easter egg hunt for their resident harbour seals.

They created a series of frozen fish Easter eggs which the seals will have to retrieve during lunchtime feeds throughout the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Blue Reef's Chris Horn said: ''We've used egg-shaped moulds to create frozen fish-flavoured Easter treats which we'll then drop into the seals' giant outdoor pool.

''As well as being a tasty treat, the eggs will also provide them with some additional environmental enrichment and something new to investigate,'' he added.

Seal Cove is a purpose-built outdoor facility provides a perfect environment for a captive-bred colony of harbour seals.

The naturally-themed 500,000-litre pool includes rocky haul out areas and underwater caves with a whole host of other environmental enrichment features to ensure these curious and highly intelligent marine mammals are kept in near natural conditions.

Giant viewing panels and a ramped walkway provide visitors with an opportunity to admire their grace and agility from both above and below the waterline.