A GRANT from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has helped a special needs charity buy much-needed equipment.

The £4,940 donation from the Gannett Foundation, the American newspaper giant which owns our parent company, Newsquest, means that Lords House Farm, in Wilpshire Road, Rishton, can buy four traditional gypsy caravans to give children, who do not have the chance to go on holidays, an experience they will remember for years to come.

The children will sleep in the secure four-berth caravans set up in a traditional gypsy camp with a mock fire, chickens and washing lines.

The holidays will also offer the children, many of whom are from urban areas, the chance to look after animals and even ride horses and ponies.

The centre initially received £20,000 from Children in Need to pilot the holidays and Children's Fund Lancashire and Blackburn donated around £64,000 over two years to carry the scheme on.

The Gannett Foundation, set up by the company that owns the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, then donated £4,940 to buy the four caravans from a holiday park in Norfolk at a reduced price.

Kevin Young, editor of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, said: "We are delighted to help this well-established group.

"They are one of the most innovative groups in East Lancashire and we are more than happy to help."

Karen Duggan, of Lords House Farm, said: "A lot of the children who come to the farm are either disabled or carers themselves looking after their parents.

"They come here because they don't normally get a break and the centre provides them with the opportunity to act like normal children."

The farm is in a reserve and is a site of specific scientific Interest protected by English Nature. It was created in the former Harper Clough Quarry, better known as Star Delph.

The gypsy holidays are the latest development to be added to the operation that is linked to Accrington and Rossendale College and provides NVQ animal care and horticultural courses for adults and children with special needs.

Last year, the Gannett Foundation provided a grant to help the Nightsafe homeless shelter in Blackburn redecorate.