THE Easter Bunny will be making an appearance in the grounds of a medieval manor house this weekend.

Crook Hall, which overlooks the River Wear in Durham, will open for the first time this year on Good Friday.

Owners Keith and Maggie Bell opened the 13th Century hall and surrounding gardens to the public for the first time in 1998.

Since then, it has become one of the area's most popular tourist attractions, and draws 3,500 visitors each year.

Mrs Bell had been concerned that foot-and-mouth restrictions would delay the opening because the house is near farmland, but Maff officials have not objected. During the Easter weekend, an Easter Bunny will be hopping around the gardens, giving out chocolate eggs to children who spot him among the spring flowers.

Family friends, 14-year-old triplets, Helen, Katie and Ali Prescott, will be taking it in turns to don the bunny costume.

Mrs Bell said: "Last year, the gardener played the bunny, but he got extremely hot."

Visitors to Crook Hall will be able to walk through the gardens, and view the medieval hall and Jacobean Room.

It will open from Friday to Monday, 11am to 5pm. Admission costs £3.75, £2.75 concessions.