STAFF and children at Fareham's Rainbow Centre are celebrating after getting a £4,000 grant from Hampshire County Council.

The centre, which does some fantastic work with children as young as six who have mobility problems, will use the huge sum to bolster everyday running costs.

Many children treated at the Rainbow Centre have cerebral palsy, the most common cause of movement, posture and co-ordination difficulties. The illness is more common than people realise, affecting as many as one in 400 babies born each year in the UK. The centre, based in Cams Hill School uses a vital system of learning called conductive education, made available in the UK when the centre was established in 1990. Fundraising and office administrator at the centre, Julie Woodward, said: "Hampshire County Council helped us financially with our move to new premises in the summer and we would like to thank them again for their continued support. It costs £200,000 a year to keep the centre running so any donations are very much appreciated."

Council leader Ken Thornber said he has seen for himself the work done at the Rainbow Centre and how it helps children suffering with cerebral palsy, adding: "Helping all the children achieve their full potential is one of the main priorities of the county council."