A charity in Blackburn has brought joy to hundreds of children after revealing the outcome of this year’s Easter egg appeal.

Each year Secret Santa, formed in 2017 by Phil and Karen Boulding, aims to donate 1,000 Easter eggs to families who are struggling, children with disabilities, or those in Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The Lancashire Telegraph issued an appeal earlier this year to help the charity, based in The Mall, meet its target for the Spring holiday.

Lancashire Telegraph: Phil and Karen Boulding, founders of Secret Santa, with pictures of volunteersPhil and Karen Boulding, founders of Secret Santa, with pictures of volunteers (Image: Phil Boulding)

This year the charity surpassed the goal, distributing 1,250 eggs to those in need.

Secret Santa has also completed its Eid gift bags, which will be distributed to 300 local Muslim children over the Eid celebrations this week.

Phil Boulding, managing director of the charity, said: “We smashed it – not the eggs but our 1,000 Easter egg goal. We actually distributed 1,250 lovely Easter eggs.

“Following our appeal for eggs in the Lancashire Telegraph and on our social media – the run-up to Easter became just madness.

“We had local firms dropping into the shop with a trolley full of eggs. An amazing supporter of ours turned up at our home with £500.

"The support has just been brilliant. We had other groups drop eggs off or donate money to us, such as the Shaun Haggart Foundation.”

Lancashire Telegraph: Blackburn’s Secret Santa donates more than 1,200 Easter Eggs to kids Blackburn’s Secret Santa donates more than 1,200 Easter Eggs to kids (Image: Phil Boulding)

Phil praised the kindness of people across the borough.

He said: “Thanks to the kindness across Blackburn with Darwen, and old and new supporters popping in and dropping eggs off, we managed to deliver an amazing amount of Easter eggs to those most in need across our borough.

“This included disadvantaged children, disabled children and the children's ward at the hospital for any sick children that were being looked after across Easter.

“The warmth and kindness of our local community is just outstanding, whether we were being donated eggs, or we were delivering eggs – we got the same warm smiles and appreciation.

“So thank you so much Blackburn with Darwen. You’re all heroes for giving us the ability to give just one more child an extra smile this Easter."

Secret Santa works all year round to support disadvantaged families across the borough, and this is its eighth year in operation.