Daily Express

97-year-old choccy is a real nest egg!

- By Sophie Wheeler

A FAMILY is selling a prized 97-year-old Easter egg that has never been unwrapped to spare squabbles over it.

The chocolate egg shaped into a doll was given to Christine Metcalf when she was two by her Auntie Poll in 1924.

She couldn’t bear to eat it and squirrelle­d it away through 10 house moves except for showings at family get-togethers in Hulland Ward, Derbyshire.

Christine’s daughter inherited the 6in egg in 2019 but now says it’s time to sell.The 74-year-old recalled: “Mum was very proud of it. She used to bring the egg out as a special treat.You were allowed to touch it, if somewhat gingerly.”

She added: “She had four grandchild­ren and seven greatgrand­children so it was impossible to decide who to give it to.”

Auctioneer­s Hansons expect a collector to snap it up for around £300 in Etwall, Derbys, on Friday. They said: “It’s the sweetest find.”

POLLUTION from wildfires is more damaging to our health than car exhausts, a study warns.

People exposed to wildfire pollution are more likely to be admitted to hospital with respirator­y problems, say scientists.

The blazes release tiny airborne particles which penetrate the bloodstrea­m and damage vital organs if they are breathed in.

Dr Rosana Aguilera, from the University of California San Diego, said: “Fine particles in wildfire smoke can be several times more harmful to human respirator­y health than particulat­e matter from other sources such as car exhaust.”

Researcher­s analysed data from hospital admissions over 14 years in Southern California.

The region has experience­d some of the most severe wildfires in recent history.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Communicat­ions.

 ??  ?? In cracking condition...doll egg
In cracking condition...doll egg

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