YOUNG Crystal Vallasso is hoping our Sparkle Appeal to help disabled children will be a roaring success - thanks to her new feline friend.

The Newport girl, aged five, is one of the 1,200 disabled youngsters who will be helped by the planned South Gwent Children's Centre at High Cross, Newport.

And for the first time today, we reveal details of what will be on offer at the site - including a hydrotherapy room, toy library and parents' room.

Maes Ebbw school pupil Crystal has special needs, speech and language problems and is currently undergoing tests to find out what her disability is.

On Saturday, she met Mufasa, a six-foot cuddly toy lion donated by Asda in Newport for our appeal to raise £250,000 for the £6 million centre.

Crystal's family is hoping that the centre will help speed her diagnosis and any treatment needed. She currently attends Eveswell clinic.

The lion, from the Disney blockbuster The Lion King, had been given to the store for the film's video release.

Asda events co-ordinator Sue Messenger said the store wanted it to get a good home so they decided to donate it to Sparkle.

Ms Messenger said: "We wanted him to go somewhere where people would appreciate him but he is so big that most people won't have room for him.

The Sparkle Appeal had volunteers at Asda on Saturday, raising awareness of the appeal in the community and selling badges, pens and teddy bears to raise more money.

Alison Evans, project support manager, said the Sparkle Appeal would use the huge lion to auction off later in the year to raise money.