A teenager who sacrificed her social life in a bid to save thousands of pounds to volunteer for those less fortunate than herself has reached her target.

Eighteen-year-old Alice Lovell worked in a Chinese takeaway to raise £2,500 to spend a month helping in a Kenyan orphanage.

Alice, who grew up in Garboldisham and visits from her Cambridge home each weekend, will travel to Africa with International Volunteer HQ, which provides volunteer programmes abroad.

Miss Lovell, who is studying for three A-levels at Long Road Sixth Form in Cambridge and would like to go on to study sociology at university, said: 'I thought it would be a good experience before going to university. My life has been pretty sheltered so far and I want to learn about other parts of the world.

'I've not been able to go out very much but it's my trip and I thought I should raise the money myself.'

She said she did not know where in Kenya she would be placed, but would fly to Nairobi and live with a host family alongside other Western volunteers. She will work in the orphanage for five days a week.

'I'm really excited,' she added. 'I've been on family holidays but not anything on my own and because it's Africa it's quite scary.'