POPULAR actor and equine enthusiast Martin Clunes took time out of his hectic schedule to receive generous donations to the Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy (FCRT).

The star of Doc Martin and Men Behaving Badly dropped into the Bransgore centre and was delighted to receive cheques totalling more than £850 from The Rotary Club of Christchurch and The New Milton Friends Group.

The TV star took along a couple of friends – his two enormous Clydesdale horses Ronnie and Bruce – to meet students at the Avon Tyrrell.

And he met many of the organisation’s 28 horses, including the aptly-named Doc.

Clunes is patron of the FCRT, which gives horse-motivated students with special needs the opportunity to learn to relate more successfully to others and to have greater control over their lives.

Founded in 1976, it helps its students to learn and develop through working with horses. Clunes became Patron earlier this year.

He said: “When I found out about the work of the centre I was incredibly impressed and blown away by what they do.

“I was delighted when I was asked to become Patron and I hope to do all I can to help raise the profile of the organisation and keep the money coming in.”

The Rotary Club of Christchurch raised £218 through a Swimathon and the New Milton Friends Group donated £637, the proceeds of a number of events.

Chairman Ron Loveless said: “We raise between £5,000 and £10,000 every year and are keen to give money to local charities.

“We have been so impressed by the therapy which is carried out here – I’m sure this will not be the last time we give them money.”

There are currently 30 students between the ages of 18 and 25 undertaking residential, three-year courses at FCRT.

The centre has recently been approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act as a Specialist Independent Provider. There are only 70 specialist further education colleges in the UK.