SOUTHAMPTON-based charity Bonhomie has thrown a vital lifeline to a pioneering activities centre for youngsters with special needs.

Bursledon's struggling Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre - which has provided new horizons for thousands of disabled young people - is set to close down by the middle of this month unless its bosses can find more than £21,000.

Tonight, the centre's management committee will be told the full scale of the challenge they face to save the centre which was opened in 1978 and was a favourite of Princess Diana.

But they will also hear that their desperate appeal for cash aid through the Daily Echo has brought a pledge of £10,000 from Bon-homie.

The centre's honorary secretary, Neil Smith, said: "While we are not there yet we have made very encouraging progress and it is very largely with the help of the press."

The county council had pledged £5,000 and the Bonhomie donation had brought in more than half of what was needed.

BP at Hamble has agreed to give £250 and Mr Smith is still anxiously waiting for replies from the majority of more than 40 local companies he has written to appealing for help.

He said: "It will be for the management committee to sort out what they are going to do."

But he added: "We are extremely grateful to Bonhomie. It is a most encouraging response to our appeal and, with a little further assistance, I am optimistic about the next three months for the centre.

"I would be devastated if the centre shut. But the public sector has responded and so has the charitable sector - if the private sector could come up with something as well we would be there."

The Southampton-based Bonhomie United Charity Society was founded in 1960 to help the aged and disabled and among a wealth of good causes it has supported it has provided funds to build and equip day centres plus provide transport. For many years it also ran a holiday centre for the disabled at Dodwell Lane, Bursledon, just a stone's throw from the QE II Activities Centre which is based in Bursledon's Manor Farm Country Park.

Speaking about the donation to the centre, Bonhomie founder Bill Davies said: "It is our job - this is nothing unusual for us."

Mr Davies said he had known the late Joe Sanders who was mayor of Eastleigh when the activities centre was built as the borough's project to mark the Queen's silver jubilee.

"It was something I knew from the outset. It is for disabled children, and there are many kids sitting at home doing nothing," said Mr Davies.

Mr Smith said he was hoping that discussions with staff at the centre would yield some savings in the staff budget but he was now keen to hear from local firms who could assist in securing the centre's future. He can be contacted on 01962 712610.