OVER £3,000 has been raised by two Whitehaven students who will be volunteering in Delhi orphanages.

Emily Morton, 18, and Olivia Underwood, 18, who recently passed their A levels at St Benedict's School, are travelling to India to help care for orphaned children, some of whom have special needs.

They will also be cooking and washing clothes, helping to teach English and organising activities on the two-month project organised by International Volunteers HQ next March.

Emily said: "I wanted to take a gap year but didn't want to just go travelling. I thought this would be a challenge.'' She is hoping to study child nursing at university next year.

Olivia, who is planning to study politics, philosophy and economics at university, is going travelling before heading to India. She said: "We would like to thank everyone for their support. We really appreciate it.''

To raise the money needed for their trip, the women organised a concert and ran the Great North Run with their friends, Charlotte Howland, Leejay Brooks, Stuart Buchanan and Anne-Marie Houghton.

Further donations were given to them by the parishioners of St Mary's Church, Cleator; Tony Roberts; John and Cathy Marcangelo and various Catholic organsations.

A skydive by Emily's cousin, Danielle Worsley, on October 1 will also raise funds for the visit.

For further details go to Emily and Olivia Orphanage Project 2017 on Facebook