A DOZEN youngsters from a Durham church will give up their summer holidays to embark on charity work.

The young people are being supported by King's Church to travel to places as far afield as Vladivostok, in Russia, Santa Domingo, in Ecuador, Japan, China and Bulgaria, where they will do community work and share their Christian faith.

Included in the tasks will be helping to build a school and health centre, developing community facilities, working with children's groups and orphanages, and teaching English and assisting local churches.

To finance the trips, which cost £1,300 each, fundraising events are being undertaken, including a salsa and pudding evening and making and selling greeting cards.

Lizzy Reid, a King's Church member, will travel on the trans-Siberian railway to work with the Living Hope children's charity in Vladivostok.

She said: "The project runs a day centre and a soup kitchen every evening, and sends volunteers to teach Bible lessons in local children's homes, visit children in prisons and hospitals, and take children to the countryside.

"As a volunteer, I'll be involved with most activities."

Mark Bonnington, a leader at King's Church, said: "Sending out so many young people to serve the needs of others across the world is good for everyone involved.

"Tough situations around the world get practical help, the young people themselves travel and face character- building challenges and King's Church as a whole has its horizons broadened.