AN appeal to spread Easter cheer among needy children in Darlington has been declared a success.

The Eggstravaganza initiative, run by Darlington Borough Council's social services department and St Teresa's Hospice, has seen hundreds of Easter eggs donated.

Darlington Mayor Ron Lewis yesterday inspected the donations at the town hall.

People still have time to leave Easter eggs at the Alpha 103.2 radio studios in Woodland Road, the Asda store in Whinbush Way, or at St Teresa's Hospice. They will then be distributed throughout the town.

* Easter got off to an animated start yesterday as a Darlington shopping arcade's display entertained both youngsters and their parents.

A tuneful and colourful Easter Egg Tree has been installed in the Queen Street Shopping Centre, in Darlington town centre, to help raise money for St Teresa's Hospice.

All donations collected at the centre until the Easter weekend will be given to St Teresa's to help with the running costs of its new six-bed inpatient unit.

Funds are also being raised by shoppers as they try their luck on the chocolate egg tombola at the centre, which is being supported by Barclays Bank.

Hundreds of eggs are on offer as prizes in the centre's tombola until 4pm on Friday.

Centre manager Rory Fleming is encouraging all shoppers to buy a ticket and help raise money for a worthy cause.