WHEN it comes to raising cash for good causes the Forest is usually quick off the mark...but this event was different.

So different that some of those taking part actually went to sleep!

The occasion was the first snail racing event in the district held at the Nags Head in Cinderford on Saturday night.

"It was obviously very tiring because a number of them went to sleep after 20 minutes. But there were a couple of top class racers," said Jenny Roberts, the Forest woman with the task of raising awareness locally of the need to raise cash for the Pied Piper Appeal – the project to build a children's centre due to open in April as part of the new hospital project for Gloucester.

Jenny, who lives at Drybrook, has set a target of £50,000 to be raised in the Forest.

She explained: "It is a project which involves the whole county and I know local people will want to play their part. There is always tremendous support for hospital projects locally and I'm sure the Pied Piper Appeal will strike a chord."

Snail racing is a pub and club-based event set to slide its way across the county.

The next event in the Forest is being arranged at the Heart of Oaks in Drybrook and as time unfolds – hopefully quicker than snails pace – there will be local and regional winners.

Jenny wants to hear from anyone who can help raise funds for the appeal and who would like to stage a snail race. She can be contacted on 01452 394119.

•The Review's Bob Smyth will give a in depth report on the Pied Piper Project in the near future.