FAMILIES are being invited  to crack Cheshire’s longest Easter egg hunt this April.

Attractions and businesses along the A49 – stretching from Sandiway to Tarporley – have joined together to provide a full day of fun on Friday, April 2.

There are not many roads where you would find yourself in a shire horse centre one minute and at the next turn tasting tempting delights in a unique chocolate shop. However, anyone who takes part in the egg hunt will discover that those places and more are all along the A49.

Mark Huntley, Manager at Nunsmere Hall.

Anyone wanting to take part in the event will be asked to make a donation to CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). The charity was chosen after an appeal for support from the headmaster and children at Eaton Primary School, in Eaton near Tarporley.

Those who turn up on the day at any of the attractions and make a donation will get a passport that they can have stamped at each of the stops along the A49.

Once they have collected a stamp from the 11 destinations they will be entered into a draw giving them the chance to win one of 11 prizes.

The prizes include a three-course meal for four at Cabbage Hall, family membership at Cheshire Polo Club, dinner and bed and breakfast at Nunsmere Hall, a spa day at Portal Hotel and Spa, a family ticket for a BusyBus sightseeing adventure tour, and family membership at Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre and more.

Among the stops on the Easter trail are a polo club, chocolate shop, shire horse centre, several hotels and restaurants as well as a farm shop.

“Everyone who turns up will have a great day and see so many different sites,” said Ginny Brookes-White from Blakemere Craft Centre. “A lot of great businesses are positioned along the A49, but it is also a beautiful part of the Cheshire countryside to visit.”

The fun officially starts at 10am on Friday, April 2, at Blakemere Craft Centre with an ‘egg’ collection competition on the Supagolf course. However, families will be able to start the route at any point during the day. Passports will need to be stamped and handed in by 3pm at Blakemere and the competition winners will then be announced.

For more information about the event – and the route – visit the D49 website at www.destination49.co.uk or pick up a leaflet from any of the participating venues.

The full list of prizes are:

Blakemere Craft Centre

Family day out for four people, including:

Annual family membership to Supa Golf, a junior owl experience at the falconry centre and a meal in the Coach House Bar & Restaurant.

The Hollies Farm Shop

Luxury hamper and a night in a Hollies Hideaway for two

Cabbage Hall

Three course meal for four* (Mon-Thurs*drinks not included)

Nunsmere Hall

Dinner, bed and breakfast for two

Cheshire Polo Club

Family membership for the 2010 season

Alvanley Arms

Dinner B&B for two

Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre

Annual family membership

Portal Hotel and Spa

Spa day package for two

Swan Hotel

Afternoon tea for four including champagne

Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop

Chocolate making experience for a family

BusyBus

Adventure sightseeing day tour for two