THREE members of Devizes Catholic Youth Group have raised more than £300 for the Devizes Opportunity Centre with a 30km walk along the Ridgeway.

Amy Lewis, Hannah Ryan and Gareth Simmons, all students at St Augustine's RC College in Trowbridge, set out on September 1 to walk from Uffington White Horse in Berkshire to the Avebury stone circle, near Marlborough.

Gareth, a sixth form student studying chemistry, physics and maths at A-level, said: "The weather was great and we all enjoyed the walk, although we were tired by the time we got to Avebury.

"But it was for a good cause and we had a lot of support from our families and friends."

The three teenagers presented the cheque for £340 to Betty Cox, the organiser of the Opportunity Centre, in Belle Vue Road, Devizes, last week.

The centre provides play facilities for children with special needs and relies heavily on donations from members of the public.

Mrs Cox said: "This is a substantial sum of money and will make a great deal of difference to us. There is so much bad press about youngsters these days, but when they get together and arrange something like this by themselves it restores your faith."

The trio chose the Opportunity Centre because Amy had worked there as a play scheme volunteer during the summer.

The Catholic Youth Group meets regularly at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in St Joseph's Place, Devizes.

The Opportunity Group was set up by a group of parents in 1978 after they found difficulty in getting pre-school care for their children.

Youngsters at the centre have a variety of physical and learning disabilities and are worked with on a one-to-one basis by the 11 members of staff.

In 1984 The Opportunity Group moved into its purpose-built home beside Canon's House children's home.

Mrs Cox has been running it since 1990.

Last year a glowing report by an inspection team from the education standards office, Ofsted, described the centre's activities as very good or better.