CHOCOLATE badgers are an endangered species at Bettys Café Tea Rooms in York Easter bunnies might be more traditional, but the new handmade milk chocolate badgers have proved a runaway success.

The woodland creatures, made from Swiss chocolate, take about an hour each to make by hand and staff at the Bettys, in St Helen’s Square, and Little Bettys, in Stonegate, can’t keep up with the clamour for more.

Una Heron, manager of Bettys York, said: “This year we took our Easter inspiration from classic English woodland scenes to create a range of superbly handcrafted treats. There are so many exquisite eggs and chocolate gifts to choose from but our characterful milk chocolate badger has swiftly captured the hearts of customers at first sight.”