Fitness fans are in training to boost funds for the Telegraph & Argus Save Our Play Appeal.

The Bradford and District Keep Fit Association is used to helping people shed the pounds but hopes to add weight to the money scales for St Luke's Hospital's toy library.

Members from across the district are giving proceeds from their annual Dance and Movement Festival in April to the appeal.

Association chairman Jennifer Griffin said: "I worked at Lister Lane School with physically-handicapped children and some of my friends have used the toy library so I know how important it is to have access to it.

"Over the years we have raised money for all sorts of things such as cancer and arthritis charities. We try to choose a new local charity each year because the national charities seem to get a lot of publicity but the smaller charities need the boost." The two-day festival, which starts at 7.30pm on April 5 and 6 at Beckfoot School, Bingley, will showcase the work of fitness instructors from across Bradford as well as performances from children's dance groups and an Aikido demonstration.

"It is usually a fun evening and we attract audiences of more than 200 people," said Mrs Griffin, who runs keep fit classes for people of all ages in Bingley and Heaton and hopes the festival will boost the Save Our Play appeal by hundreds of pounds.

The toy library, which lends out toys to stimulate and educate more than 1,000 youngsters with special needs and disabilities, was on the brink of closure when the Telegraph & Argus started its appeal in December.

Thanks to the generosity of readers, the appeal smashed its target of £12,000 after just one month raising enough cash to keep the vital resource on its feet for another 12 months.

Now we are aiming even higher and hope to raise £30,000 to secure the library's long-term survival, with enough money to cover running costs and help replace the specialist equipment which families rely on.

The money raised so far means the charity can start to plan for the future and buy new specialist toys, which can cost more than £100 each.

Library chiefs also hope to introduce play sessions and produce a brochure to let more people know about the library, which offers access to vital information for families.