A STAND-UP comedy event this Thursday will help to send a group of students on a trip to Peru.

The Madfoundation comedy night features Jim Jeffries, as seen on TV's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and fellow comic Paul Foot.

Live hip-hop DJs and artists from Wholemeal Beatz will add to the flavour of the event, at the Warehouse, at the rear of the Town Hall, in Durham.

The doors open at 7pm, and the £10 admission includes one free drink and food at the table. Tickets are available at the door.

Part of the proceeds will go towards an Andean expedition being planned by a group of Durham Sixth Form Centre students this summer.

The dozen-strong group needs £13,800 to meet the cost of the two-week expedition. They have raised £10,000 after a series of events, including car boot sales, a mad hair day at the college, a casino night, and some took part in the Boxing Day Dip at Sunderland.

But they are running out of time to reach the target, particularly as they are all preparing to sit A-level exams.

While in Peru the students will help to teach English to local school children in an Andean village as well as taking part in an orphanage building project.

* Anyone willing to help is asked to contact teacher Emma Graham, on (0191) 384 7505.