Don't they look bonny in their Easter bonnets.

These youngsters (left) donned their homemade hats - complete with chickens and fences on top - as part of a fundraiser for the Focus Youth Centre in Short Street, Southend.

The club has come into its own since Essex Youth Service was forced to withdraw funding last year and now it has to raise funds to keep going.

Organiser Sandra Woods said: "As well as the bonnets, we also held an egg and spoon competition. I thought one or two jokers might turn up with unboiled ones but thankfully they didn't.

"The day went down really well and all the money raised will help pay the DJ for our Saturday morning disco - who has not increased his charges in 20 years - and our youth worker."

Tesco kindly provided Easter eggs as prizes for the egg and spoon races.

Anyone who would like more information about the youth centre, which provides a variety of activities for ten to 25-year-olds, should contact 01702 464315.

Disco queen - Rebecca Lynch, aged nine, who won the disco dancing competition at the fundraiser

(Below) Bees in their bonnets - and everything else you can think of to help Alyce McTigue, Louise Pepperdine and Mitchell Laggage be winners

Picture: ADAM SCOREY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.