A NEW indoor pony trekking centre is set to open in Birmingham – the first in the Midlands.

It will be at Hole Farm Trekking Centre in Woodgate Valley Country Park and the £250,000 cost will come from selling land to a supermarket.

Asda is buying an acre of the country park from the city council to build a new store in nearby Barnes Hill.

The council-run centre has 22 ponies, two stable blocks, outdoor paddocks and an arena and teaches children from the city how to ride.

It also takes them on treks through the country park and specialises in disabled children and introducing inner city children to the past-time.

Manager Carol Jones said she had plans for an indoor centre drawn up a couple of years ago but the funding fell through.

“Because we’re outdoor we’re at the mercy of the weather,” she said.