A ZOO and all its animals were brought to life for visitors young and old who called into a Waterfoot theatre.

More than a 100 people enjoyed a visit to the Horse and Bamboo's latest Guided Imagery production when the doors of The Magnificent Mountain Menagerie opened to the public.

It was the company's 13th Guided Imagery production, which is an interactive theatre experience for young people with special needs and learning difficulties.

Groups from Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Manchester, Preston and Cheshire visited the project over the last three weeks and a further 15 groups will visit before Christmas.

A whole host of quirky characters and animals can be seen, including a Watch Dog, who of course collects watches, a Jersey Cow, who knits woolly jerseys and a Nanny Goat who looks after two kids.

The idea behind the project is to try to encourage communication skills and confidence among the participants.

Many of the students who attend the project have varying degrees of disability, ranging from behavioural problems to profound physical or mental problems.

Because the environment is multi-sensory, no matter what difficulties the students have they will be stimulated either through sound, touch, visual effects, taste and smell.

The project has been so successful this year, an additional week had to be added to the run, but this still left more than 14 schools on the waiting list.

The project has been funded by charities, trust and foundations from all over the country.