DISABLED people will be able to take to Otley's lagoons thanks to a £5,000 grant from the National Lottery.

Otley Sailing Club, which is based at Weston Water, received the grant to buy three special dinghies, which will allow people with both physical and visual problems to sail independently and in safety.

Norman Stephens, from the sailing club, said that the whole community across Wharfedale and beyond would benefit from the facilities.

He said: "We've been campaigning to improve our facilities for disabled people for more than ten years and we're overjoyed at the news that we're going to get the money. We are a club that is committed to sport for all and to me this is what sport is all about. It's not about winning races and all that sort of thing, it's about the whole community being able to take part together and enjoy themselves. We have a couple of blind members, but this is a wider thing that will allow organisations and schools to have access to the our facilities."

Mr Stephens said that before the new boats, blind and disabled people had to duck every time the mast swung around - but the new dinghies stop that problem. The Access Dinghies also have the helmsman reclining in a nylon webbing 'lazy chair' with legs each side of the centre board. The boat, which is virtually impossible to capsize, is steered with a vertical joystick.

Otley Sailing Club is also looking for sponsors to help them buy some £80 two-way radio systems. These will allow people who are totally blind to take part in normal club racing events.

Anyone wanting more details can contact Mr Stephens on (0113) 293 3021.

l Horsforth will have its own sports day to showcase local talent this year - after coming up trumps on the National Lottery.

The Horsforth Sellandale Running Club has received £5,000 from the lottery's Millennium Fund to put on the sports day which Mark Saville, one of the organisers, is hoping will attract thousands of people of all ages.

The event, due to be held in June in Hall Park, will see activities for all the family and will involve all Horsforth's sports club and organisations. "It's a major community event, with marquees, stalls and hopefully, a couple of thousand people there. We're including a boundary run around Horsforth, which will be about 10 miles and there will be other activities like egg fights and five-a-side football on offer. It will be a really fun day," said Mr Saville.

He added that the event also brought plans for the resurrection of Horsforth Sports Council, involving all of the town's sporting organisations, a step closer to reality.

Mr Saville also said that he needed a main sponsor for the event and also called on local businesses to donate money or goods for prizes for the sports day. He can be contacted on Leeds (1003) 258 4680.

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