A GROUP of youngsters are about to follow in the footsteps of the legendary warlord Genghis Khan.

Eight young people and two youth workers will be jetting off to the wilds of Mongolia next month.

But first they have to attend one of their last fundraising efforts to reach the £7,000 they need - a Mongolian Ball at Romanby Golf Club, near Northallerton.

The event takes place on Friday, July 11. Tickets, priced £17.50, include a three-course meal, disco and live band.

The youngsters, all students at Northallerton College, will be the only English representatives at an international youth camp. They started planning for the trip when the county council's community education service made a successful bid for a place at the camp.

Northallerton was the only youth group from the UK selected to attend the camp by the British Council.

A spokesman for the group, Emma Casson, said: "The fundraising has been a hard slog, but also quite enjoyable. Now, everyone is just so excited about what they're going to experience."

Tickets for the Mongolian Ball are available from Emma, or Keith Best, at Northallerton College, on (01609) 773340, extension 272.