YOUNGSTERS with special needs and children who are blind and partially sighted have been given the chance for a little horseplay - thanks to a donation by young thespians.

Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society's Youth Section gave £700 to a local branch of Riding for the Disabled - cash collected by holding raffles during its last show, Annie Get Your Gun.

"It was fantastic to be given this money and has meant that we can do extra things with the children, as well as having some funds towards the general running of our branch," said Amanda Smith, instructor for the association's Malvern Hills Group.

The branch, which is run at Guinness Park Farm, Leigh Sinton, near Worcester, aids youngsters from Manor Park School, Worcester, and also the city's college for the blind.

The donation has paid for equipment ranging from activity pots to cones for carrying balls and other things. They are all brightly coloured and their use ties-in with work the children are doing at school.

"They play shape sorting-type games on horseback. It is great fun, besides helping with co-ordination and control of the ponies," said Mrs Smith.

"We are always grateful for donations as this is such a worthy cause and other financial help would be appreciated," she added.

This year, WODYS has decided to raise money for the Crohn's in Childhood Research Association (CICRA) and has adopted a teenager who is battling this debilitating illness as mascot.

Thirteen-year-old Vicky Wedgbury, a pupil at Nunnery Wood High School, Worcester, has been suffering from the condition since the age of four.

WODYS' chairman, producer and director, David Humphries, said: ''We decided to raise money for CICRA because it is a case close to our heart. One of our own members suffers from the condition and we are well aware how distressing it can be. We are delighted to have Vicky as our mascot.''

Over the years WODYS has given more than £8,000 to various children's charities and CICRA will benefit during its staging of Return to the Forbidden Planet at Worcester's Swan Theatre from Tuesday, August 3, to Saturday, August 7.

"Return to the Forbidden Planet looks like being a very popular show and tickets are already selling well," said Mr. Humphries.

Tickets can be obtained from Huntingdon Hall box office on 01905 611427.