A PLUCKY Webheath gap year student is packing her bags and taking her skills elsewhere - to help young people in Africa.

Former county netball playerJess Timbrell, of Tynsall Avenue, is setting off in January to teach PE to schoolchildren in famine-hit Malawi and is hoping to take sports equipment along with her.

She said: "The pupils have absolutely nothing - they have to use a blown up plastic bag as a football - but they're very keen to learn."

She added that in the light of other disasters, such as the recent South Asia earthquake, other needy countries were often forgotten about.

The 18-year-old former St Augustine's pupil will be heading to London this month to complete a training course after deferring her place at Birmingham University.

She said: "I'm excited and nervous at the same time, but I love travelling and have always wanted to do something as worthwhile as this."

To donate sports equipment, email jess_timbrell@hotmail.com