LEISURE and learning for children and young people with disabilities has been given a boost after the Warrington Guardian's parent company, Gannett, awarded a cash grant to a Woolston charity.

The Allsorts Centre, based at Woolston Playbarn, applied for a grant from the charitable arm of the company, the Gannett Foundation, for cash to buy new toys and replace old stock.

Their application was successful and the charity, which provides play and leisure opportunities for children and young adults with disabilities and learning difficulties, was this week presented with a cheque for £4,000.

The foundation was particularly impressed by the Allsorts toy library, which lends toys and play equipment throughout the community.

The charity helps families with children who have a variety of problems and actively supports inclusion, engaging children in consultation, decision-making and choices, no matter what their ability.

The cash will be used to purchase early skills toys, soft play equipment, dexterity and visual tracking, touch and talk toys, sound and music equipment and construction and social play toys.

Shelley Moorfield, project development worker at Woolston Playbarn, said: "It was a lovely surprise to find out that our application had been successful.

"The £4,000 will enable us to buy new toys and equipment for our children and young people, to carry on our work with the project and develop it further."