The 12-year-old spent the summer washing cars with friends to raise the cash for a visit to work with children and help decorate a school in a poor fishing village in Ghana.

Emily, a member of Featherstone 2nd Guides, was one of 11 recruits chosen for the adventure next summer.

Proud mum Kathryn, of Pontefract Road, Purston, said: "Emily loves to travel, and we've travelled a lot as a family but she has always wanted to go on safari. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience something completely different.

"Emily worked out that offering a service like car washing would be the quickest way to raise most of the £1,500 she needed."

Generous residents have also rallied round to provide gifts and supplies that Carleton Community High School pupil Emily will take to Africa.

Kathryn added: "It's lovely to see the generosity of our whole community.

"Featherstone Methodist Chapel collected items as well as making a donation and we've had things made to raffle off. Emily plays the cornet and will be performing to help the guides raise the £25,000 total for the trip."