Mum is nicknamed Easter Bunny as she collects 4,000 chocolate eggs

Sally Maher has been carrying out the generous effort for five years but has this year smashed her previous record by at least a thousand.

And despite revealing she is 'almost sick of counting' the 48-year-old is still collecting donations as she prepares to hand out the last eggs over the coming days.

The mum-of-two said: "At the end of the day, all I want is to put smiles on people's faces."

Sally has been distributing the Easter eggs to schools, care homes, playgroups and hospices during the past few weeks following a deluge of chocolate donations.

Some of the places to receive the Easter treats include Hey with Zion CofE Primary School in Lees, Holy Cross Primary School, Woodlands Primary Academy, Dr Kershaw's Hospice, Royal Oldham Hospital and many more.

Sally, who lives in Lees, wanted to particularly thank One Stop shop in Moorside and Tesco's on Huddersfield Road who were especially generous with their donations.

Her Easter efforts have made her well known to people in Oldham and she has even started being called the Easter Bunny.

Sally said: "I was on my way into my house when a boy shouted 'mummy, that's where the Easter Bunny lives.'"

Sally has surpassed last year's amount by 1,000

Sally also shared how her best friend had recently passed away suddenly and that the egg gathering has been a focal point in a dark time.

She said: "I've only continued because of her.

"We just buried her, I didn't want to get out of bed last week."

Sally praised the efforts of Tesco's on Huddersfield Road

But despite the loss of her close friend, Sally is carrying on her efforts to bring joy to those who need it.

She is still accepting donations with just a couple of weeks left until Easter weekend.

People can donate Easter eggs to Sally's cause at The Grapes pub in Lees, The Diggle Hotel or One Stop shop.

People have shown enormous generosity around the borough