YOUNG horse enthusiasts in East Lancashire are saddling up for success after a donation from Daniel Thwaites' Charitable Trust.

Thwaites presented Bank Hey School, Blackburn, with £1,065 for weekly horse riding tuition and equipment after school funds became insufficient and the money will enable pupils to continue visits to Earnsdale Farm Riding School in Darwen.

"We're extremely grateful to Thwaites for the contribution, it means so much for the children," said Pippa Kay, special support assistant for inclusion at Bank Hay School. "The riding lessons help to build self esteem by giving children a sense of achievement.

"We have taken pupils for lessons for the past eight years and it has proved very successful. The youngsters develop their social skills."

Thwaites invited a group of pupils to the brewery stables where they met the famous shire horses and received a tour by Thwaites' head horsekeeper Charles Beardmore.