MEMBERS of a boxing club are taking ballet lessons in a bid to send a group of severely autistic children to Disney World.

Frankie Wales, whose daughter Elenor is autistic, has encouraged members of The Amateur Boxing and Sports Club, based at Coatham Memorial Hall, Redcar, east Cleveland, to take up the challenge to learn ballet.

The team is planning to perform its newly-acquired skills to an audience to raise money to help send 15 children with learning disabilities from the Autistic Home Base at Kiltonthorpe School, Brotton, to Disney World.

There are also plans for a sponsored leg wax and a 60s night to raise money.

"Usually on television you see children with mild autism," said Mr Wales, the club's founder.

"But these kids are severely autistic. Our daughter is nine, but she behaves like a two or three-year-old. She often asks us why other children and adults are looking at her and covers her eyes and ears because she realises she is different.

"On this trip they'll all be together and everyone will know what they're about. It'll be great for them."

He said most of the children would never normally have the chance to go to Disney World.

Mr Wales' wife, Maggie, said: "The trip will allow the kids to be themselves. We're constantly trying to get them to conform and behave as we want them to, but this trip will let them indulge their obsession. Autistic children seem to love cartoons, which capture their imaginations.

"It's going to take a lot of organising, but it will be worth it."

Anyone with fundraising ideas or sponsorship for the boxers is asked to call (01642) 478996.