EASTER family fun comes in all different shapes and sizes this year.

For chocoholics who fancy splashing out on a loved one this Easter, what about this egg-straordinary creation seen in the window of Bettys in York?

This gigantic made-to-order Easter egg, on display at Bettys Caf Tea Rooms in St Helen's Square, would set the buyer back £150.

It was created by chocolatier Robin Kendall, who is based at the Bettys craft bakery in Harrogate.

Robin has created 12 of these giant eggs this year, each taking more than three hours to make and containing a staggering 5kg of chocolate.

The egg is decorated with handmade flowers created by members of a team of cake decorators, who are also responsible for Bettys wedding cakes.

This year, Bettys chocolatiers have created almost 5,000 Easter eggs, which are sold at the six Bettys Caf Tea Rooms in York, Harrogate, Ilkley and Northallerton, and by mail order.

Meanwhile, paperboys and girls from across the Evening Press circulation area got a special Easter treat - a free egg courtesy of Nestl Rowntree.

More than 800 Smarties Easter eggs were handed out to our hard-working band of loyal delivery staff who make sure newspapers reach their destination all year round.

Evening Press newspaper circulation manager Barry Sellers said: "They do a fantastic job in all weathers. We hold them in very high regard and appreciate the hard work they all do and this is our way of showing our appreciation."

A spokeswoman for Nestl Rowntree said: "As York's leading chocolate manufacturer, Nestl Rowntree is delighted to give an Easter egg treat to the Evening Press newspaper deliverers."

Visitors are also expected to flock to see nine Soay lambs at the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, at Murton, York.

Amanda Clarke, museum secretary, said: "The sheep have started lambing during the last couple of weeks.

"The Soay is a very ancient breed from a Scottish island, so they are appropriate to have around the Celtic settlement and Viking village.

"They are very distinctive. Some people think they look like miniature dark goats.

"They are quite an attraction, especially at this time of year.

"Although it is not a 'petting' farm it is nice for visitors to see them in the paddock."

The Yorkshire Museum of Farming is open daily, from 10am to 5pm. Admission is £4.50 (£3.50 concessions/ £2.50 children).

The Jorvik Viking Centre has also launched a rampaging programme of Easter events.

The Coppergate Centre, where the attraction is based, will be packed with fun activities throughout the school holidays.

The Great Jorvik Dig was set up in the middle of Coppergate, featuring a 30ft 19th century Norwegian ship "moored up" on sand.

As part of Jorvik's fun-packed Easter programme, three young competition winners, Rebecca Lennon, aged five, from Full Sutton, Beth Taylor, aged five, from Pocklington, and Louise Atkins, aged eight, from Wiggington, York, warmed up to dig for a "golden ticket" to win a family weekend trip to Legoland in Denmark.

Dressed as would-be archaeologists, the three youngsters were among 30 winners, aged five to 16, who joined the Great Jorvik Dig.

The 30 winners were picked from 400 children who entered a Jorvik drawing competition, sending in pictures of historical figures they would most like to meet.

All 30 winners had 30 minutes to dig for the golden ticket to win the grand prize or other coloured tickets to win games.

Each participant won a prize, as well as a free family ticket to visit Jorvik and The ARC.

The Great Dig will also be around for the Bank Holiday weekend with an array of further activities on each day.

Updated: 10:22 Saturday, March 26, 2005