A new pre-school group operated in Ledbury by Urchins means that local children with special educational needs do not have to travel into Hereford for play sessions.

Urchins administrator Roz Jarrett said the Opportunities Group was now proving a great success, with up to ten local children taking advantage of the specialist sessions at Ledbury Community Hospital every Thursday afternoon, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

She said: "They used to go to Hereford, to a centre there, now they have a local outlet.

"These are all local children. One child comes in from Colwall, and that's the furthest distance away.

"We call it the Opportunities Group, because the children feel they are just coming to a pre-school group."

The children who do attend are recommended to the group by health visitors and may be late developers or have minor medical problems.

The weekly class is for youngsters aged from three to five, but most of the children currently attending are in the lower age range.

Ledbury Town Council has just approved a grant of £150 for materials and equipment for activities such as crafts and painting.

Mrs Jarrett said: "We never have enough to cover what we do and we are fortunate and grateful that we have this grant from the town council."

Town clerk June McQuaid said the money given was part of the council's proceeds from last October's Hop Fayre, and that a whole range of other grants had been made from it, to other local organisations.

The Carnival Association has received £338, the Stroke Club was given £200 and the Visually Impaired Club received £250.