FUTURE cures for intractable diseases could fall into the hands of a Wyre Forest man who has been chosen to go to the African jungle to help document rare plants.

Mike Williams, who works with inner city residents in Birmingham improving their environment, has won a lottery-funded Earthwatch Millennium Award and will be travelling to a mountainous part of Cameroon later this month to collect plant samples for Kew Gardens in London.

"I've got a strong interest in wildlife and natural history," said Mr Williams of Dewberry Close, Stourport. "I've never been to Africa before but it's a part of the world I've wanted to go to."

He added: "We'll collect plant samples and bring them back to the village where we're staying. There is a hope that some of the plants will be of use for medicine."

Mr Williams and his fellow volunteers will receive a royal welcome after they arrive at their remote base a day's drive from the airport.

"We have to be presented to the local king, who has the wonderful name of the Fon of Kom, and introduce ourselves. We're staying in his palace."

The 52-year-old butterfly enthusiast says the scheme, to which only those past their half century may apply, is "one of the few good things about being over 50".