A SOUTHAMPTON sports club for people with learning difficulties is celebrating after a city morris dancing troupe handed over a cheque for £700.

Southampton's King John's Morris Men donated the money to Oaklands Team and Recreational Sport (OTARS), an out-of-hours sports club for people with a learning disability in the Southampton area.

The money was raised through collections after dances and performances of the mummers' play that the group have been touring the city with.

OTARS hit the headlines in January this year after three of its athletes brought home a total of eight medals from the Special Olympics in Italy.

Morris dancer Ross Lillywhite said: "I have watched OTARS' development over the last couple of years, and I'm so impressed at what they have done to increase sporting opportunities for local people with learning disabilities."