A GOLD-PLATED Easter egg has been hand-decorated by a chocolatier at a store in the city centre. 

Caitlin Paxton, head chocolatier at Montezuma’s Chocolates in Duke Street, Brighton, used surplus confectionary from the shop to cover the 4kg egg, in the spirit of the company’s minimal waste ethos.

People are given the chance to win the chocolatey creation in a raffle, with funds donated to charity Children on the Edge, which is currently working with Ukrainian refugees.

The egg’s value is currently unknown, but with the addition of 24-carat gold-leafing, Montezuma’s employees estimate it to be worth approximately £250.

The Argus: Caitlin preparing to put the gold leafing onto the eggCaitlin preparing to put the gold leafing onto the egg

“The kids love it. They stop and go, ‘I’ve never seen so much chocolate in my life’,” said Caitlin.

“I’m not quite sure how you eat it. I think I’d get my friends round and have a party and smash it. I think smashing it would be fun, get a hammer or something.”

The Argus: The egg, ahead of its gold-platingThe egg, ahead of its gold-plating

Montezuma’s Brighton store held its Easter egg hunt for children yesterday morning while the egg began its makeover, with other sites in the group running their hunts this week, in the run-up to the Easter weekend.

The Easter period is one of the company’s busiest times of the year, as well as Christmas.

Raffle tickets to win the egg are available to purchase in-store.