AN Elvis Presley tribute show held at the Dormans Social Club, Middlesbrough, recently raised more than £1,500 to buy a horse for the Riding for the Disabled Association's Unicorn Centre at Hemlington.

The event was organised by the Holmes family - Bill, his wife Ann, daughter Lorraine and mother-in-law Lillian - who make up Charity Challenge, an organisation which is well known in the area for raising funds for local charities.

The Broken Horseshoe Country and Western Club from Stockton also made a £100 donation.

The funds have purchased Grenadier, a 12-year-old, 15.2hh half Dales horse.

He was owned by the Tansley family, who have already permanently loaned another of their ponies, Biggles, to the Unicorn Centre.

Mrs Tansley said: "As my son Chris, who competed with Gren, is now in his final year at veterinary college and has so little time to ride, he has reluctantly agreed to sell Gren to the centre, knowing that he could not have a better home or support a more worthwhile cause."

Mr Holmes said: "I have wanted to buy a horse for the Unicorn Centre for several years, and when I heard that the centre had a horse in mind, we set to work.

"I chose the Elvis tribute because Elvis is so popular on Teesside and I knew the event would be successful.

"I'm delighted that we were able to raise all the funds to buy Grenadier.

"I should like to thank all the staff and members of the Dormans Social Club for their invaluable support."