Ref. 73209-23 Downs Syndrome group treasurer Mandy Hancock with son Charlie and, from the Westgate Nursery, Riley Rees-Turner, Freya Sullivan and Finlay BartonYOUNGSTERS at a nursery in Highworth have been pulling out all the stops to help one of their classmates.

The children at the Westgate nursery in Highworth have raised nearly £500 for Swindon Downs Syndrome Group, which provides advice, training and support to parents with children who have Downs syndrome.

They decided to raise money by racing around an obstacle course and getting parents and friends to sponsor them, as one of their classmates, three-year-old Charlie Hancock from South Marston, has Downs syndrome.

His mum, Mandy, 37, the treasurer of the Swindon Downs Syndrome Group said: "The support the nursery has given me has been fantastic and when they said they would raise money for the group, I was delighted."

Charlie attends the nursery twice a week, and the children there have learned sign language to talk him.

Downs syndrome occurs in one in every 700 children and is the most common cause of developmental disability and is caused by an additional chromosome.

Children affected are also at increased risk of illnesses such as hearing and vision defects and heart problems.