76246-169A NEW College student spent four hours in a bath of beans to raise money for a trip to South Africa.

Gemma Innes, 18, of Stratton, is aiming to collect £4,000 to pay for the three-month expedition at the end of May.

She said: "It was cold and pretty nasty but it's for a good cause."

The former Kingsdown School pupil sat in the tub at Sainsbury's in Stratton, where she works part time, on Saturday.

It was the latest in a line of fundraising initiatives she has undertaken to hit her target.

She said: "I've already got £2,000 after my old school had a non-school uniform day that raised £1,080.

"I also did a 48-hour sponsored silence at college and at home which was really hard because I can talk for England. It was such a relief when I finished and I got about £400 from that."

Gemma is currently studying A-levels in art and textiles and hopes to get in to Bristol University to study fashion and textile design in October.

On her trip to South Africa, which is organised by the African Conservation Experience, she will spend time teaching, farming and working in a health surgery.

She said: "I'm really looking forward to it. It should be a really interesting trip."