For the region's playgroups and nurseries it has been a feast of babies, bonnets and bunnies in the lead-up to Easter. ANTHONY OSBORNE surveys the festive fun.

YOUNGSTERS across Swindon have been celebrating Easter with special events at nurseries and playgroups.

Among them were the children at Freshbrook's Rainbow playgroup, where youngsters and parents were asked to make hats to mark the coming of Easter.

Frances Cottle, supervisor at the Rainbow playgroup said: "All the different bonnets were fantastic and lots of creativity was shown by the children and their parents."

The hats were judged by Paul Edwards from the Hairworks salon in Freshbrook.

He decided that Tamzin Dunn, two, and Charlotte Bremner, four, were the runners-up receiving books, but the overall winner was Charlie Rabey, four, who won a painting set.

Meanwhile, children at the Jelly Tots nursery at Brookfield School were being egged on by students from Swindon College.

The six students, Daniel Bint, 17, Chris Benson, 18, Gavin Thomas, 18, Gary Haugh, 17, Emma Barwell, 18 and Laura Cleverly also 18 entertained the 30 children at the nursery with fun and games and an Easter egg hunt.

The youngsters were split into two teams of 15. One team got to play games including musical statues and sleeping lions, while the other team worked hard to find hidden Easter eggs.

The students were involved as part of their leisure and recreation course at the college.

Daniel Bint said: "It's been great fun for the kids and us, and I think there were smiles all around from all of the children."

At the Little Star Nursery at Swindon College, another 30 youngsters had a great day with games, an Easter egg hunt, and then the highlight for many the bonnet parade.

Cathy Parker, acting nursery manager said: "It has been a fun-filled day for everyone all the kids have smiles on their faces."

Mike Hopkins, head of Swindon College judged the best Easter bonnets.

Taking the prize for best bonnet for the under-twos was one-year-old Evan Bramford. Winning for the two- to three-year-olds was two-year-old Emily Bowdidge. Three-year-old Hanna Wiltshire took the prize for the three- to five-year-olds.

And over at Brimble Hill Special School, pupils are celebrating Easter in a big way with a 1m chocolate egg.

The egg was delivered by tae kwon-do teacher Steve Dearlove.

Headteacher Bob Walker said: "Today has been wonderful way of getting the message of Easter across to the children. The egg is so big, there will be plenty of chocolate for family-size portions."