FORMER Cherries boss Harry Redknapp joined car enthusiasts in supporting a Dorset disability charity at this year’s Bournemouth Wheels Festival.

The Sporting Bears Motor Club raised over £4,000 for Diverse Abilities by giving petrol heads the chance to ride in a luxury car.

Mr Redknapp paid a visit to the stand during the Wheels Festival and donated funds for a young boy to have a ride in his dream car.

The funds raised at the event will help children with disabilities in Dorset as part of Diverse Abilities’ Lilypad Appeal, which is renovating the charity’s respite home for youngsters with complex disabilities and their families.

Diverse Abilities was the chosen charity at the ‘Dream Rides’ event because club member James Woodward’s niece, Laura, attends the children’s respite home.

Rachel Woodward Carrick, Laura’s mum, said: “The children’s respite home that Diverse Abilities run is a home-from-home for Laura.

“The support she receives is fantastic and the staff are truly amazing. A massive thank you goes to everyone that came along and donated to enjoy a dream ride as it will make a huge difference to children with disabilities, and their families, in Dorset.”

Members of the Sporting Bears Motor Club, which is based in Hampshire, help raise money for children’s charities at various events throughout the year by offering rides in their classic and sports cars.

Since the club’s formation in 1989, it has raised well over £1,500,000 for children’s charities in the UK.

Helen Mortimer, fundraising manager at Diverse Abilities, said: “We would like to say a massive thank you to the Sporting Bears Motor Club for choosing the Lilypad Appeal to support at this year’s Wheel’s Festival and to everyone that donated in exchange for a ride.”

Jon Weaver, Wheels Festival director, added: “It was a pleasure to welcome Sporting Bears to Wheels 2016. The club added another dimension to the event, offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences and, in some cases, equally life-changing donations.

“We are delighted to hear that Sporting Bears raised such an enormous amount of money over the course of the weekend. Congratulations to everyone involved.”