Proof they're good eggs.

YOUNGSTERS have been turning their chocolate Easter eggs into real eggs to help children in disadvantaged countries.

Ravensworth Terrace Primary School, in Birtley, has been supporting the "Be A Good Egg" campaign.

Run by World Emergency Relief (WER), the drive aims to help impoverished areas of rural Africa.

All 170 four to 11-yearolds in the school have been part of the project, which has seen them give up one of their Easter eggs.

For pounds 6, a typical cost for a large chocolate egg, WER can buy several laying hens that will lay up to 150 eggs each per year, giving an African family a sustainable source of protein.

Some of the money raised will also fund larger chicken and egg laying projects, each with hundreds of laying hens established to serve small communities or orphanages.

Through these projects, enough eggs are produced to feed the children, with many left over that can be sold to raise funds for additional livestock, agricultural equipment and even pay for teachers' salaries and children's education.

Alex Haxton, director of operations at WER said: "Having laying hens is one of the simplest and quickest steps towards self-sufficiency in terms of both food and income."