CHILDREN at a domestic abuse shelter are predicted to have an eggselent Easter after Swindon Masons donated hundreds of chocolate eggs.

Managers at Swindon Women’s Aid, which supports victims of domestic violence, welcomed the generous donation yesterday morning.

Olwen Kelly, director of Swindon Women’s Aid, said: “Easter can be a very expensive time, especially for our mums with three or four children.

“We’ve got 22 families in our refuge at the moment, which includes 47 children.

“It’s an absolutely wonderful gift. The mums can give out the Easter eggs as if they came from them.”

Olwen said Easter can be a difficult time for children at the refuge.

“We make the refuge as nice as we can, but it’s not like home. A lot of the women who come to us who are fleeing domestic violence and abuse rely on their partners for money.

“When they come to us they have nothing. Not even their toothbrush, let alone money for Easter eggs.”

Children at the refuge are often away from their friends. Some are forced to stay away from school over fears for their safety.

Swindon Women’s Aid, which is supported by Swindon Borough Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner, helped 532 families across the city last year. More than three hundred were deemed to be in significant danger of being hurt or even killed.

The charity runs a helpline for victims of domestic abuse, which last year received more than a thousand calls from worried victims.

Swindon Women’s Aid has been supported by the Swindon Masons in the past, with the organisation donating to the charity over the festive season.

Olwyn said: “The Masons help us out every Christmas, but they don’t advertise what they do.

“When the children receive their eggs on Easter Sunday they won’t even know they came from the Masons.”

She added: “This gift is about making life in the refuge that little bit easier. It’s going to bring a bit of normality to a situation that is just not normal.”

To donate to Swindon Women’s Aid visit: www.swindonwomensaid.org.