A Vale of Evesham woman is set to visit Australia to carry out scientific research with the environmental charity, Earthwatch, after winning a Millennium Award.

For Linda Mason, aged 53, of Church Lench, who has never been abroad, never flown and has not been camping since she was 10, it promises to be what she described as "the opportunity of a lifetime".

The award gives her the chance to work alongside leading scientists from Earthwatch on the project, Australia's Vanishing Frogs. The project aims to conduct frog and habitat surveys for clues to the amphibians' decline.

The unemployed amateur painter will be flying out on January 18.

"I'll be working, living and socialising with a multi-cultural team and getting my hands on real-life subjects."