THREE police officers are to take part in a 24-hour badminton match - to help build an orphanage in Ghana.

PCs Steve Norman and Phil Bird, together with Inspector Mark Rhodes, are all members of the Northallerton New Life Baptist Church, which is trying to raise £40,000 to build the orphanage, in Accra.

The match gets under way on Friday afternoon, at the church.

PC Norman travelled to Accra for the second time earlier this year to see what conditions are like.

"The poverty in the centre was horrendous, with a typical family of four living in cramped accommodation measuring about 10ft by 8ft," he said.

"The cooking is done outside, and washing is over an open sewer.

"The orphaned children make a home for themselves anywhere they can find, and are never likely to find a permanent home or education."

The church's plan is to build a three-storey building which will provide food, education and hospital facilities to more than 100 children, aged from three to 15.