PLANS to improve stables at an East Lancashire horse charity have been announced.

HAPPA (Horses and Ponies Protection Association) was delighted to share news of planned improvements to stables at the charity's Shores Hey Farm in Burnley.

The charity was able to secure funding for developments to the roof of three stables and attached supporting buildings, by Petplan Charitable Trust.

The stables, which are part of the original farm buildings, have been home to many rescued horses and ponies since the charity moved to Shores Hey Farm in 1984.

Having stood the test of time for many years, it became inevitable repairs would eventually mean replacement.

Thanks to a generous award from Petplan Charitable Trust, HAPPA will now be able to go ahead and make these improvements, and once again be able to house equines in the stables.

Alongside these improvements the funding will also allow the Charity to add additional rubber matting to the stables’ floors.

Catherine Bourg, from Petplan Charitable Trust, said: "After receiving the application for support from HAPPA, the trust were delighted to be able to make this project a reality for the charity.

"We are literally putting a roof over the heads of rescued horses and ponies and building a brighter future for them. I cannot wait to see the completed project.”

Julie Pharaoh-Gan, HAPPA’s head of marketing and fundraising, said: “We cannot thank Petplan Charitable Trust enough in helping HAPPA to make it happen.

"This is a big project and without the support from the trust it would have taken a long time to raise the funds to make this happen.

"Thankfully we can get this project underway and soon be able to use these stables again to house rescued equines.

"Looking back to when HAPPA first came to Shores Hey Farm and the recent changes, the Charity has come a long way.

"However, this is the original stable block and needed some improvement considering HAPPA has been at the farm for 38 years.

"The roof has had repairs over the years, but sadly it has got beyond this and for the Charity to use these buildings a replacement roof is needed.

"This project is another huge milestone in the farm’s improvements, and I am delighted that HAPPA will be able to work alongside Padiham Roofing to make this happen.”

There will be parts of the farm out of bounds to visitors when the work commences, but where possible disruption will be kept to a minimum and updates will be posted on the charity’s social media and website.