Bradford City Farm is appealing for funds to help them take their animals to the people.

The Girlington-based farm wants to set up a mobile unit which will allow them to take the farm's animals to schools, clubs and nursing homes in the city.

Staff and volunteers are to stage collections around the Bradford district to try to raise the £4,000 they need and are appealing to people to help them raise the cash.

Debbie Mountain, farm manager, said: "We've had increasing demand from schools for a mobile unit.

"A lot of schools have problems with funding when trying to get groups of trips together to visit the farm and by taking animals to the schools, more children will get to see them."

The farm also needs to raise £250 to buy some people-friendly Kune Kune pigs. The hairy pigs originate from New Zealand and only a small number of people breed them in this country.

Mrs Mountain said: "I have seen the pigs interact with people - especially children - really well.''

A third plea is also being sent out by the farm to Bradford businesses for the sponsorship board to be displayed at the front entrance of the farm on Walker Drive.

Mrs Mountain said: "The idea is that for just £5 local businesses - small and large - will have their name displayed on a sign at the farm for a year, which will be on view for the hundreds of visitors to see."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.