Employees from Electricity North West, the region’s local power network, along with National Grid, the region’s gas network, have donated 1,452 chocolate eggs to local food banks in time for Easter Sunday.

Deborah Marshall, Streetworks Coordinator at Electricity North West, and Alison Regan, Gas Distribution at National Grid, began collecting the eggs last month.

Deborah, from Penwortham, Preston, said: “We did a collection for advent calendars alongside National Grid last year, so I thought why not do it again at Easter?

“The response from colleagues has been incredible – we never expected to receive so many donations. Knowing that more than 1,400 children in really difficult circumstances will have a smile on their face this weekend makes it all worthwhile.”

Alison, from Westhoughton in Bolton said: “It’s been great to work together on this project to make a real difference for local children whose parents otherwise would not have been able to afford an egg at Easter – something most of us take for granted.”

The eggs have been donated to The Salvation Army in Preston, The Trussell Trust in Blackburn and Trussell Trust in Atherton and Leigh.