RESIDENTS at Little Haven Residential and Nursing Home were treated to a parade of children wearing decorated Easter bonnets.

The care home in Dibden Purlieu saw approximately 20 children boasting homemade hats including bunnies, lambs, chicks and other traditional symbols of spring.

The youngest child to take part in the event was a two week-year-old baby and some stand-out designs were real grass on a bonnet, while another featured little eggs that shone with lights.

Lucy King, activities co-coordinator, said: "The children were from families of staff and residents and they'd gone to a lot of time and trouble and our residents really loved seeing them."

The children arrived at 2.30pm on April 21 where they spent hours dancing and talking to residents and five children paid special visits to residents who were bedridden.

Phyllis Wrixon, a resident, said: "It was absolutely lovely. Just seeing the children’s smiling faces was a treat and their Easter bonnets were wonderful."

Emma Young, training co-ordinator, said: "We have always held this event, but I have never seen such an array of hats. People were clapping and laughing; they loved watching the children have fun."

She added: "The dining room was full and there were people who I have not seen for ages. There are two things that people miss which are pets and children and we bring them both in."

Chris Balcombe, a son of a resident, said: "The home were impressed that so many people turned up despite the hot weather when many families would have been heading for the beaches."

He added the children had not had a "huge amount of help from parents, as I think they had come up with the designs themselves."

Each child was given a chocolate Easter egg and a specially-printed certificate to thank them for their efforts.

Little Haven is run by the Wilverley Association, a charitable trust which also operates Forest Oaks in Brockenhurst.