Your guide to Easter holiday events across England's north-west

So the Easter holidays are upon us and the kids are off school for a couple of weeks...

From Easter egg hunts in Lancashire to immersive art in Manchester and from stage adaptations in Salford to Easter-themed crafting sessions at the Beatles Story in Liverpool... there is a lot to tempt you - regardless of the weather.

Here are just some of the fun activities planned across the north-west of England.

Brockholes Nature Reserve in Prestonis hosting an orienteering trail challenge for all the family to enjoy this Easter.

Kids follows markers, solve clues and explore the countryside along the way - with a certificate and a sweet treat waiting for them at the end.

Two routes are available - either a pram-friendly course or one which requires some navigational skill.

You can buy tickets online from £5.50, with your ticket being valid from 28 March to 19 April.

After exploring nature, why not head to Ribby Hall Village where your child can take part in The Great Ribby Duck Race.

You can personalise your own rubber duck with decorations and waterproof pens before they race around The Island from 13:30 each day (a quick reminder that the clocks go forward in the early hours of Sunday 29 March, meaning we will switch from GMT to BST).

A range of prizes will be up for grabs after the races.

You will need to collect your ducks from 10:00 each day at The Island's Club House.

It wouldn't be Easter without an good old-fashioned egg hunt.

And in Blackpool, there is a twist this year because it's a dragon-themed hunt.

An apprentice sorcerer has muddled an Easter spell and cursed six dragon eggs.

They are calling on your help to find the eggs, collect a letter and work out the hex to win a prize.

This event runs across the Easter break at The Hole in Wand.

There are also more seasonal-themed egg hunts across the region, including events at Thornton Hall Country Park and Ribby Hall Village.

Thornton Hall will also host a toddler-friendly Easter party - complete with pass the parcel and musical statues games along with crafts, farm animals and indoor soft play.

One of the region's main pulls for families this Easter will be the Lowry Theatre in Salford.

A stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson's Zog novel runs from 14 to 19 April, with tickets starting at £20.50.

In addition, the arts venue is hosting a new immersive art exhibition of works by one of the city's most celebrated sons, LS Lowry.

'Lowry 360' marks the UK's first permanent, free immersive exhibition where families can enjoy the sights and sounds of his iconic Going to the Match painting.

After making the short trip from the Lowry in Salford to Manchester city centre, families can then enjoy a new exhibition called Head, Shoulders, Knees & Goals at the National Football Museum.

Kids and parents can explore the science behind movement, the stories that shape identity and the joy of football fandom through hands-on play, sensory moments and incredible objects.

The exhibition also reveals the impact that sports science, exercise, nutrition and even clothing can have on performance.

Meanwhile, the Tameside Spring Family Festival invites residents and visitors to enjoy four days of free entertainment and seasonal celebrations across Ashton and Stalybridge.

Families can enjoy free vintage fairground rides, live theatre, dance and music performances, as well as face painting, balloon modelling, arts and crafts, and a selection of food stalls from 8 to 11 April.

Another duck race will take place in Salford Quays on 3 April, with members of the public being able to sponsor a duck for the chance to win prizes including vouchers for karting, Laser Quest and Oxygen Activeplay.

To start the race, firefighters from Salford will use their jet hoses to create a current, sending hundreds of ducks racing along the course.

Families will also have the opportunity to meet the firefighters and see their fire engine up close.

Liverpool's Royal Albert Dock will see the return of its Bunny Tail Trail this Easter.

Kids will have to search for 16 bunny-themed vinyls dotted around the docks, each containing a letter which spells out a hidden Easter phrase.

Families can pick up a map, bunny ears and sticker from the inner quay at Roly's Fudge or The Nest.

Whilst at the docks, children can have their face painted at PANAM or help make an Easter-themed paper wreath at Revolution.

Both free workshops will be open between 12:00 and 16:00 BST between 31 March and 9 April.

National Trust property Speke Hall will also be putting on an Easter spread of activities, including an activity trail celebrating the joys of spring. The fun runs from 28 March to 12 April.

No booking is required, whilst tickets are priced at £3.50.

Once they're done, children can hop into the Bunnies' Burrow to pick up a chocolate treat.

At the site's Farm House restaurant on select Mondays throughout Easter, kids can enjoy making an Easter bonnet or tree from toilet rolls.

These events will run from 10:00 to 12:00 BST on 13 and 20 April.

Tatton Park will be celebrating 70 years of Miffy through fun activities aimed at pre-school and early primary school-aged children.

They can meet Miffy's farmyard friends and help her prepare for a special Easter picnic, learning about animals and rural life along the way.

The adventure continues inside the mansion, where families can discover the colourful treasures that she has collected throughout her spring journey.

The event runs from 3 to 6 April.

The Ice Cream Farm, near Chester, will be hosting their own scavenger hunt until 19 April where kids will have the chance to meet the Easter Bunny or a scarecrow.

The event has also put in place dedicated SEN scavenger sessions for kids who prefer a calmer environment.

On Easter Sunday (5 April), youngsters will have a chance to say hello to a variety of animals including wide-eyed owls, reptiles, meerkats and ponies at Cholmondeley Castle's petting zoo.

After the petting zoo, kids can race the Easter Bunny in either an egg-and-spoon or sack race before exploring the surrounding gardens of the 12th Century manor house.

Tickets are £9 for adults and £4.50 for children. Those aged under one go for free.

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