MARK Heenan and Daniel Bowerman, of Wootton Bassett, have begun an overland expedition by Land Rover through Africa, to help an orphanage building project in Malawi.

The two science graduates have volunteered to oversee construction work at Mzuzu.

The £13,000 building scheme, for which the African church has been raising funds, is in conjunction with Action and Outreach, the overseas aid branch of the Mothers' Union, and the Anglican diocese of Northern Malawi.

"We will be project managers for the scheme to provide a large meeting hall, kitchen, stores, toilet and washing facilities," said Dan, 28, who has been construction manager on major projects with Wates Construction Ltd.

This will be his first visit to Africa, but Mark, 31, a former senior staff nurse, lived in Zambia as a child.