A STONECLOUGH police officer is set to jet off to Africa next week on a mission to give children an alternative to life on the street.

Martin Tomlinson will join a team of 15 emergency services personnel travelling to the Ugandan capital of Kampala on October 31.

The group, from Greater Manchester Police and the Fire and Rescue Service, will be working with charity Retrak to help get children out of the city’s slums.

The 32-year-old has raised more than £2,000 to fund the trip and is now busy collecting gifts and other items to share with the children.

He said: "The last few months have just flown by since I decided to do this. It has been a lot of work raising the money but I've got there and everyone has been very generous.

"We held a charity night with a meal and entertainment, which was great, and now I'm gathering up whatever stuff I can take with me. I'll be taking the kids some clothes, football kits, arts and crafts, and a few other things.

"I'm very grateful to everyone who has been a part of the fundraising, whether they've given money, come to the events, or donated some items for me to take over to Uganda."

During the nine-day visit, Martin will be helping to build schools, accommodation and complete renovation works on existing buildings in an attempt to improve the lives of children in the area.

He will also be visiting the city's slum areas to try and encourage some of the poorest children to get off the streets.

The father-of-two added: "It's going to be a busy few days and we're just about ready to go now.

"As well as helping with building and remedial work we have a lot of activities to do with the children. We will be helping with their reading and writing skills, and teaching them how to sew so they can repair their own clothes."

Since it was set up in 1994, Retrak has developed projects in Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya to provide healthcare, refuge and education.