A 26-year-old veterinary nurse is heading to Africa to help disadvantaged children and is urging people to donate educational toys.

Jodie Foster, below, of Long Lee, Keighley, is travelling to Cape Town in South Africa on Sunday, January 20, on a volunteer programme.

The month-long project, run by i-to-i, a group which organise overseas voluntary work, will involve teaching English to children with mental and physical problems.

Miss Foster, who works across the district as a locum vet nurse, has previously worked abroad as a volunteer to help animals.

She said this time she wanted to help children because it would be a different challenge.

"I would urgently like donations of any reading or colouring materials, or anything else that may help these children enjoy a childhood we take for granted," she said. "I think the life over her is taken for granted."

Jodie can be contacted by e-mail at jf.vn@tiscali.co.uk and donations can be dropped off or posted to Vets Now Ltd, 1 Lorne Street, Bradford, BD4 7PS. For more information contact www.i-to-i.com.