A GROUP of young carers and children particularly affected by Covid restrictions came together for an Easter party.

The Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth played host to the party for 85 youngsters, organised by the Wessex branch of Variety The Children’s Charity.

After a greeting from a bouncy Easter Bunny, the children, from Bethany Junior School, Boscombe, enjoyed a chicken goujons, sausages, pizza and chips lunch with chocolate brownies for pudding.

Afterwards there was entertainment from Krazy Kev and two children who helped on stage were rewarded with their very own magic wands and another took home a balloon dog.

Elisabeth Rawson-Jones, pastoral lead at Bethany, and her colleague Julia Winston, said:“The children had an incredible time today. It felt so good to be able to take them out of school at last after such a long time with Covid and not being allowed to go anywhere.

“The hotel did an amazing job with the food. The children were all full up which is good to see. They are talking about how much chicken, chips and sausages that they have eaten - and not forgetting the chocolate brownies. 

“These children have built some marvellous memories from today's outing and will treasure them for a long time to come.”