Ref. 27924-37RACING goats and sheep at the Roves Farm visitor centre at Sevenhampton cantered their way to stakes worth £2894 for charity.

Lured towards the finishing post by the promise of a rewarding feed, the animals, which were sometimes accompanied by pigs, have competed every weekend since February to raise money for the Prospect Hospice.

The cash was contributed by race goers who bought coloured betting slips corresponding to the colours of the animals' collars.

"The adults got just as wound up as the children," said course inspector Marianne Yon. "But everyone's favourite part was when the children were allowed to race against the pigs. The four-legged entries always proved faster than the two-legged ones."

The racing season that has just ended was the fourth at the Roves centre and raised twice as much as last year's, which also gave Prospect's funds a boost. Previous seasons have benefited the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Service.

"It's an absolutely fantastic total," said Maureen Wishart of the Hospice's fund-raising office. "Roves Farm has been really good to us."

The farm's owner Rupert Burr said: "The animals are easy to train. You have a pen at one end of the course and a trough at the other and they run happily if they know there's a bit of grub waiting for them."

Now the runners are being schooled for a new event. They will star in a nativity play at the centre throughout the Christmas season. Children will also have chance to take part.

Santa Claus will be down on the farm and there will also be a real stable scene and Christmas crafts for visitors to enjoy.

The Kentwood Choir juniors will sing at the centre on December 14 and 21 and on Monday December 22 the Kentwood Choir will present a carol concert.

For more information about the centre's Christmas programme call 01793 visit www.rovesfarm.co.uk.

A Tesco Express store opened in Barrington Close, Liden this week and the supermarket donated £500 to the hospice to mark the occasion.