Pony school facing closure is thrown a lifeline

Image caption, Park Palace Ponies in Dingle was set up in 2017

A riding school for inner-city children has said it has been thrown a lifeline after deciding to close due to funding troubles.

Park Palace Ponies in Dingle, Liverpool, said it needed "Β£30,000 to survive in the short-term" because its costs "hugely outweighed" its income.

But the non-profit organisation said the news this week that it had achieved charitable status would "help assure our future".

It said it "needed time to process and plan" and would reopen soon.

Set up in 2017, the social enterprise has won several awards for its work including a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

It has has seven ponies, and provides services to schools and hospitals.

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