A Keighley girl is set to cross the Atlantic for World Youth Day.

Clare Martins, pictured right, who attends The Holy Family RC School, will join 30 others from the diocese of Leeds when she travels to the celebrations in Canada in July.

World Youth Day, which will be attended by the Pope, involves thousands of young people from 150 countries and is aimed at bringing together Catholic youth from all around the world.

Clare, 17, from Highfield Lane, will spend the first four or five days in Niagara. She will stay with Catholic families and be involved with various community projects.

She will then travel to Toronto to take part in the various events and masses that form part of the festival.

She said: "I'm looking forward to going. You make a lot of friends when you are in a situation where you are with people who you have something in common with."

Clare needs to raise almost £1,000 to go on the trip, some of which will be given to help people from third world countries to make the journey to Canada.

To help raise the money she has organised a curry night backed by her school, which will take place on Friday, May 10, in the hall at The Holy Family School.

The food is to be provided by the Shimla Spice Restaurant and there will also be a bar serving wine and traditional beer, provided by the Goose Eye Brewery.

Clare added: "I haven't met anyone else from this diocese who is going yet, but I think we will invite them to the curry night."

Tickets for the curry evening are available from the school on 01535 210212.