A York charity which provides activities for youngsters with special needs has snapped up a donation of more than £1,000.

SNAPPY (Special Needs Activities and Play Provision York) was presented with the outstanding sum after generous health staff dug deep during a special carol service at York Minster.

The concert, on December 18, was organised by the North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority and was open to all NHS staff. This week the charity's mascot, SNAPPY the alligator, accepted the cheque for £1,009 from the strategic health authority's chairman, Professor David Johns, and chief executive, David Johnson.

Bridget Gill, head of communications for the strategic health authority, said the carol concert was a special night for NHS staff.

She said: "The service was a great success. The Minster was packed to the rafters and the singing from the choir, made up of 300 NHS staff, ensured it was a night to remember. The turnout was better than we could have imagined with more than 2,000 people attending. The service has become an NHS tradition and I would like to thank all those people who made it possible - it was great to see so many health service staff joining in the occasion."

SNAPPY's project manager Anne Pemberton said: " The money will be used to finance play schemes and fun activities for the children and young people involved with SNAPPY."

Updated: 09:12 Thursday, January 16, 2003