A Cullingworth teenager is gearing up to a trip to Chile, despite Foreign Office advice against non-essential travel to the country in the light of the row over General Pinochet.

Kate Robinson, of Ainsdale Grove, flies to South America for an adventure of a lifetime in January.

She will fly into the capital Santiago, where there has been trouble since the House of Lords decision that Pinochet was not immune from prosecution because he was a former head of state.

The 18-year-old said: "We will spend a couple of days in Santiago before taking a 2,000-kilometre coach journey south to a place called Coyhaique."

The former Bingley Grammar student said that she was looking forward to the challenge organised by Operation Raleigh.

"I have spoken to the organisation and they have assured me that I will be in safe hands.

"If trouble does flare up, then anyone involved with the project will be evacuated. So I am not worried at all."

Kate has held down jobs at Abbey National and at the Old White Horse pub, Bingley, to help her fund the trip. And family and friends have also helped her hit the £3,000 target with fund-raising activities for her to take part in the challenge.

The 18-year-old will spend almost three months on community projects, improve a children's nursery and tackling environmental schemes.

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