THERESA May has slammed the National Trust as "absolutely ridiculous" after dropping Easter from its annual egg hunt.

The Prime Minister waded into the row between Cadbury and the Church of England after its annual Easter Egg Trail - a National Trust event which it sponsors each year - was rebranded to the “Great British Egg Hunt”.

3 The Trust has courted controversy with no reference to Easter in the title Credit: CADBURY

May said during her trip to the Middle East: "I'm not just a vicar's daughter I'm a member of the National Trust as well.

"I think the stance they have taken is absolutely ridiculous. I don't know what they are thinking about frankly.

"Easter's very important. It's important to me. It's a very important festival for the Christian faith for millions across the world.

"So I think what the National Trust is doing is frankly just ridiculous."

Westminster sources claimed the PM’s attack was influenced by a long-standing feud with the National Trust’s boss Helen Ghosh – who used to be a permanent secretary at the Home Office when Mrs May was Home Secretary.

3 Cadbury egg hunts take place at hundreds of National Trust sites

The row erupted after it emerged US-owned Cadbury’s campaign at 300 Trust properties was called the “Cadbury Great British Egg Hunt”.

Senior clerics accused the chocolate giant of trying to “drop Easter” and “airbrush faith” after changing the event, which hundreds and thousands of children attend each year.

The Archbishop of York said the move goes against everything the company originally stood for, after it was founded by the deeply religious Quaker John Cadbury in 1824.

Dr John Sentamu told the Daily Telegraph last night: “To drop Easter from Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt in my book is tantamount to spitting on the grave of Cadbury.”

MOST READ IN NEWS 'WORST NIGHTMARE' Newborn mauled to death by 'jealous' dog who escaped from pen, says uncle WHIT HITS THE FAN Minister plays down claim that Chris Whitty ‘wants new 2-week lockdown' Exclusive BOJO PLEA We need tough love to flatten 2nd camel-like Covid hump and save Xmas, says Boris COLD HARD TRUTH How to spot the difference between coronavirus and a common cold TYNE & FEAR North East to be plunged into lockdown at MIDNIGHT with '10pm pub curfew' Exclusive NO 'SNEAKS' Don't snitch on neighbours unless they're having 'Animal House parties' says PM

While a Church of England spokesman described the decision as “airbrushing faith from Easter.”

But Cadbury said the event is also designed to appeal to non-Christians, saying: “We invite people from all faiths and none to enjoy our seasonal treats.”

Cadbury's website makes reference to Easter in relation to the hunt in several places, but the word does not feature on the logo for the event.

The National Trust website invites people to "Join the Cadbury Egg Hunts" before adding: "Join us over the Easter holidays to run through muddy woodlands, around mystical lakes and along nature trails on a Cadbury Egg Hunt."

National Trust cracked today and made changes to its website so a publicity message urged the public to “Join the Cadbury Egg Hunts this Easter.”

And Cadbury said: “We invite people from all faiths and none to enjoy our seasonal treats which can be found around Easter time.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the issue reflected "commercialisation gone a bit too far".

Speaking at the launch of the party's local election campaign in Newark, Mr Corbyn added: "It upsets me because I don't think Cadbury's should take over the name."

3 The National Trust run hundreds of Easter events Credit: SWNS

A National Trust spokesman said: "It's nonsense to suggest the National Trust is downplaying the significance of Easter. Nothing could be further from the truth.

"We host a huge programme of events, activities and walks to bring families together to celebrate this very special time of year.

"A casual glance at our website will see dozens of references to Easter throughout.

"Our Easter events include our partnership with Cadbury's, which has been running Easter egg hunts with us for 10 years.

"They've proved consistently popular with our members and visitors. As part of its wider marketing activity at Easter, Cadbury's will always lead on the branding and wording for its campaigns."

Cadbury, which sponsors the event, said that it wanted to appeal to non-Christians, saying: "We invite people from all faiths and none to enjoy our seasonal treats."

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368