HORSE riders are fighting to save a long-established riding school in Holcombe.

The stables, land and arena at Margaret Haes Riding Centre are due to go on the open market in March, meaning the charity could lose them forever and need to raise £425,000 to keep them.

Since 2015, the riding centre has been a tenant at their stables. However a deadline has now been set of March 31 to put the centre on the market, giving the school two months to raise the necessary funds to purchase the site.

A member of the riding centre's management committee, Debra Batchelor, said: "This riding centre means so much to so many people and the number of people it helps is quite incredible.

"People volunteer with us for so many reasons, but the main one is that they understand the special bond between people and horses.

"This centre has been here for 50 years, and Margaret Haes was well ahead of her time in recognising the empathy and sensitivity of horses. She was an inspirational figure and we don't want to lose her legacy.

"I will be overcome with joy if we can raise enough money to retain ownership because of the financial freedom it will give us.

"We will then be free to invest in so many projects that would be too risky to do at the moment."

If the bid to raise £425,000 is successful, riding centre supporters plan to create a new educational centre with accommodation for visiting students, a new 'brew room' for volunteers and community members to socialise, and summer camping facilities.

Andrew Butterworth, riding centre chairman, said: “This is our ‘forever home’ and we love it. The best way to stay in the village is to buy the site, for the benefit of future generations.

"It’s far better to own the site rather than continue to lease it, which limits our potential for growth.

"We support the most vulnerable children and adults in society. Around 160 riders attend very week and, of those, over half have a disability. All we ask is (for) a donation."

For more information about the riding centre's crowdfunding appeal go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/keep-our-forever-home