THE CEO of a Hampshire charity said it has been "an honour" to serve the organisation.

Lara Bull has stepped down after five years of "living and breathing" the Rainbow Centre.

She started at the centre for conductive education and helped stop it from closing in the Spring of 2014.

But citing personal and family reasons she handed in her resignation just two weeks ago.

As reported charity manager James Mudie has been drafted in as interim CEO.

Ms Bull said: "To have worked with the team and take the centre from crisis of closure in spring 2014 to the present day with increased sessions and an adult service that has quadrupled is a great achievement for us all.

"In the past four years we have increased monthly known income and launched three initiatives to support the centre both now and in the long term: our 100 Club Corporate regular scheme which now has 26 members; our Footprint Fund and our Free Will Scheme supported by 7 local law firms as well as working with many organisations, companies and individuals providing vital support to the centre.

"Those who know me will know that I have lived and breathed The Rainbow Centre for the past five and a half years but recently my wider family priorities have changed, and so I have decided to hand the baton on and relaunch my outsource project solutions business so that I can gain a better balance and have time to support my own family.

"It’s their turn now."

She wished James and the team "every continued success" and thanked the team for everything they have done.