A POOL tournament will be held to help raise cash to send a two-year-old boy from Brierfield to the world-famous Peto Institute in Hungary.

Three local businesses read in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about the campaign launched by the parents of Nicki-James Shepherd to send their child for specialist conductive education therapy and stepped in to help raise the money needed.

Nicki-James suffered cerebral palsy after being starved of oxygen at birth and his parents Kirsty Murray and Nicki Shepherd, of Quaker's View, have already reached their first target of £5,000 so he can go to the centre.

He was scheduled to fly out to Hungary this month, but a fund-raising sportsman's dinner had to be delayed, so the trip was put on hold until October.

In the meantime Nelson Ladies Circle presented the family with a cheque for £2,500, which meant they had achieved their first total.

Now local businesses in Burnley have joined the campaign to organise a pool tournament which will be held on September 17 at 7.30pm at Riley's Pool and Snooker Centre, Hargreaves Street, Burnley.

Organiser Simon Hagan of Penyard Publishing, in Elm Street, Burnley, said: "We have put up £50, Riley's have donated £50 and we are offering prize money of £80 with the remaining £20 going towards a cup for the winner.

"Imageworks from Lomeshaye in Nelson have printed the posters to promote the event and depending on how many people we get entering the competition it may go over two nights."

Anyone wanting more information can contact Riley's on 01282 455403.

Nicki-James spends five days a week receiving special therapy at Liverpool and attends Reedley Hall Child Development Centre once every four weeks and Lomeshaye Village Nursery two mornings a week.

He is just learning to walk on quad sticks, but his parents are hoping the therapy he receives will enable him to walk independently by the time he reached school so he can live as normal a life as possible.

Kirsty said: "The sportsman's dinner has been rearranged for October 23 and we are planning to go to the institute for an initial two weeks in October and then for a further two weeks before the end of the year or in January.

"We are also raising money to pay for metabolic therapy which uses natural substances to help him develop."

Racehorse owner Lionel Snowdon of Valley Paddocks Racing in Sabden has organised the dinner. For tickets contact 01282 603897.