A STORM-battered charity is counting the cost after part of a stone barn collapsed.

A pounding from wind and rain weakened the gable end of the building at Lords House Farm riding therapy centre, Rishton.

The collapse has set back a project to renovate the barn as an education facility for the physically and mentally disabled.

Centre administrator Mary Walker said: "Major fund-raising will now have to be carried out to recover the cost of demolishing the building.

"Luckily the barn was no longer in use and there was no injury to humans or livestock."

Riding therapy sessions and visits to the animals were suspended for a day last week while the remaining structure was made safe.

The barn project includes plans for a lecture room to teach courses in horse care and animal care, a tack room and a new office.

Yard manager Kath Thacker said: "There was a rumble and there was the barn on the floor.

"If we can salvage any of the stone already there it will be rebuilt."

A 60ft tree in the meadow was also blown down over Christmas but did not cause any damage.

Anyone who would like to help the centre in any way can contact them on 01254 877400.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.