Pottery enthusiasts will be able to carry on with their classes following a donation from The Argus Appeal.

The Pots of Talent group has been run by Varndean College at the Bridge Community Education Centre in Brighton for the past five years as part of its learning provision for adults in deprived communities. Due to recent cuts, the college will no longer be in a position to offer the course from this September.

The group are planning to set up their own separate organisation so they can carry on and apply for grants and funding as well as organise fundraising events.

However this will take time to set up so the group asked the appeal to step in and help keep them going until they are more firmly established.

Appeal trustees agreed to grant £1,136, which will pay for hiring a room, tutor fees for nine weeks, clay and glaze materials and the cost of two firing sessions.

Members of the group, some of whom are long-term carers, have learning disabilites or mental health difficulties, say attending gives them a chance to take time out, gain confidence and learn new skills.