CHILDREN spending Easter at the Royal Gwent Hospital were surprised by a special visit by the Easter bunny on Good Friday (April 19), when he made a special delivery of Easter eggs.

The furry character was joined by members of Chepstow and District Round Table, as well as the Cwmbran All Stars Scooter Club, to deliver £250 worth of chocolate to poorly children in the Newport hospital on April 19.

Steve Axon, this year’s Round Table chairman, said: “The fact that the children are stuck in hospital shouldn’t stop them enjoying some treats at Easter.

“It is always a privilege when the staff at the Royal Gwent Hospital allow us in to bring some happiness to those little faces and take their mind off the reason they are there.

“This was my first community event as this years chairman and a very memorable one.”

The Easter event follows a Christmas collaboration between the two organisations, which involved Santa Claus and his elves delivering presents to the hospital’s children’s ward.

James Watts, who played Santa during that Christmas event said this week: “It really touched me to see those little faces light up when they saw Santa in December, and I thought it would be a great idea if we could do the same for Easter. I got hold of my old pal the Easter bunny and he was only too happy to help.”

The groups handed out any leftover Easter eggs to the ambulance crews outside the hospital’s A&E department for the paramedics to take home for their children.