15308/6HUNDREDS of children across Wiltshire flooded in to Longleat to enjoy a special day out organised by Rotarians.

The Calne branch took 27 children from four primary schools, each with their own personal helper.

KidsOut targets children aged five to 12-years-old who attend special schools or are at special units at mainstream schools.

The children are nominated by their schools and teachers, Rotarians, parents and volunteers help supervise for the whole day.

Chippenham Rotary Club took 60 pupils from St Nicholas School on the trip.

At Longleat the children enjoyed the safari park, saw the gorillas watching television and were entertained by clowns organised by the Rotary Club.

Calne Rotarian Ann Jones said everything ran smoothly and everyone had a great time.

She said: "It was an excellent day. Everybody enjoyed themselves. One little boy said to the woman looking after him: 'I will never forget you.' It was lovely."

The idea of KidsOut originated in Liverpool in 1916 and was adopted by Littlewoods Mail Order in 1958.

It was expanded across the country in 1991 with the help of Rotary.