A dental nurse is travelling to Nepal to help people who are missing out on treatment in the wake of last year's devastating earthquake.

Amy Platten is due to spend two weeks in the stricken country working at a make-shift emergency clinic and delivering advice about hygiene, diet and brushing.

The 28-year-old, who works for the JG Plummer group covering Norwich, said she expected to be confronted with problems that would only be seen in Norfolk 'once in a blue moon.'

She will join a small team of dentistry professionals travelling to the country in April with Dentaid, a charity which cares for teeth across the developing world.

Miss Platten who grew up in Gorleston said she had enjoyed doing volunteer work in this country and had helped to set up the Norwich Soup Movement.

But for a long time she had wanted to make a difference further afield using skills she already had and enjoyed using.

'I have never had toothache,' she said. 'But I am told it is one of the worst pains you can get. I have seen pictures of young children with abscesses which have been left untreated. I want to help and also deliver the message that prevention is better than cure.'

The former Lynn Grove High School pupil will spend the first week of her trip in the capital Kathmandu before moving on to a small village where she will teach people about oral hygiene and visit schools.

To carry out the volunteer work which aims to leave lasting benefits she needs to raise £1800, all of which will be donated to the charity to help it continue its projects in places like Nepal, Morocco and Cambodia.

To support Miss Platten visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/amyplatten1