Hillingdon Autistic Care (HAC) is to offer dance mat classes in order to encourage young people with autism to take part in regular exercise.

The charity, based in Middlesex, has invested in ten dance mats from supplier ZigZag.

The funding for the mats came from an under-spend in the Hillingdon Youth Opportunities and Youth Capital Fund budget.

Stephanie Mullally, HAC's recreation coordinator, said: "The main barrier to exercise that our clients with autism face is that they are socially excluded due to the complex nature of their disability.

"The children cannot access mainstream exercise classes or sports groups, such as football teams, as the instructors lack the relevant knowledge and skills to meet their needs.

"The dance mats allow us to facilitate our own small-group exercise sessions, with high ratios of appropriately trained and skilled staff to care for the clients."