Talk of the Town: Help a gnome find a permanent home

HE is a gnome without a home.

But children who get down to the Botanics next week will be invited to take part in a special Easter Hunt that involves spotting the garden's newest resident rather than chocolate eggs.

The gnome, which has been moving around the plants and bushes every day for the past couple of weeks, is looking for a name and a final place to put up his boots and fishing rod.

In addition to the grand naming and homing ceremony, kids who take part in the Botanical Gardens' week-long club will enjoy other gnome-related activities including crafts, storytelling and adventure.

The club, running from Monday to Friday for eight to 12-year-olds, costs 120 for the week.

Let's hope it's a case of gnome sweet gnome for the newest resident.

Impromptu dance class marks 50th anniversary

CONGRATULATIONS are due to a Scottish country dancing class which was started on a whim 50 years ago and is still going strong.

It first began when a Young Mothers' Group at Broughton McDonald Church was waiting for a guest talk from a missionary. With no sign of the speaker, the minister's wife decided to teach them a few steps.

The class has been running ever since and is now held at Broughton St Mary's Parish Church where dancers - including some of the original members - recently celebrated the milestone.

Look out for chocolate man

IT seems like a fair trade - chocolate for coins.

A live chocolate man, dressed like a robot, will dish out goodies on Edinburgh's streets in exchange for donations to the NSPCC.

The chocolatier, rustled up by Thorntons to celebrate their centenary, will be showcased in a giant box and will stand completely still until passers-by throw him a bit of loose change.

He'll then zap into life, mixing chocolate and entertaining the crowds with his funky robot moves.

The chocolatier will be unveiled from 10am in the St James Centre on April 21.

Pizza the wedding action

A CITY restaurant is helping to celebrate the Royal wedding with a special addition to the menu.

Papa John's in Leith has created the Royal wedding pizza complete with an image of the happy couple created out of classic ingredients.

The shop on Leith Walk employed a food artist - who knew such a thing existed? - to create the look-a-like pizza with mushrooms for Kate's veil and peppers for William's morning suit.