Easter bunny hops into Ellesmere for the weekend
The Easter bunny is making an appearance in Ellesmere this weekend, thanks to a family that has brought a host of inflatable figures to the town after the past 12 months.
From Dilly the Dinosaur to a Halloween skeleton, clown and of course Santa, the oversized figures have wandered the streets of Ellesmere to brighten up lockdown.
Kerry Rowlands came up with the idea when he was furloughed during the first lockdown.
He bought the dinosaur costume and took to walking round the town waving to children who were off school and unable to play with their friends.
Dilly also raised money which the Rowlands family used to buy hand cream for local health workers.
From there the idea snowballed and over the past year people have become used to seeing the large, inflatable figures out and about.
Taking turns to put on the suits have been Kerry, his wife Tracy and Kerry's son, Ryan.
"They can get very hot to wear and so all the family help out," he said.
He also built a complete sleigh for the alternative Santa ride around Ellesmere this year.
"Local companies kindly supplied the materials and we built is from scratch," he said.
"When I heard that the charity that usually brings Santa to town couldn't do it this year I had to step in. We did three nights and it was wonderful to see everyone waving, from the children to the older people. We raised an amazing £600 which we split between three good causes."
Daughter Lili-Ann is following in her parents' footsteps by creating bags of kindness to give out in the town.
The Easter bunny started its visit to Ellesmere by popping into the primary school and Ducklings Nursery on Thursday, to the delight of the children.
On Saturday and Sunday it will be walking around the mere giving out treats.
"As we are fulling enclosed by the suit it is Covid safe," Kerry said.
