HOSPICE staff are urging people to avoid waste by donating something other than chocolate eggs this Easter.

Haven House Children’s Hospice in Woodford Green is encouraging its supporters to buy gift cards or presents from its Amazon Wish List.

Children cannot have the eggs because their conditions stop them from eating, drinking or swallowing whole foods. Some are also tube fed.

Those who want to donate should buy toys from the hospice’s Amazon Wish List which are tailored to children’s needs, staff advise.

Mike Palfreman, chief executive of Haven House says: “Easter is a time when our supporters often want to generously donate chocolate eggs to our hospice, however many of our children are unable to eat, drink and swallow whole food.

“While we donate some of the chocolate eggs we receive to the brothers and sisters we support, we do receive an excessive amount of chocolate eggs at Easter.

“We would never turn away a kind donation from our supporters, but if you would like to help our hospice this Easter, please consider buying one of our gift cards.”

Click here to see the range of gift cards and toys.