A RISHTON student is to fly halfway around the world to work on a building site with a difference.

Rob Wallace, 19, from Hermitage Street, will head to Uganda in June as part of a university project - to build a community centre to be used by a massive 35,000 people.

The African trip will be the furthest the second-year civil engineering student has ever been from home.

But he said he can't wait to get his hands dirty and start the project.

Rob, who goes to university in Newcastle, said: "We will be building a community centre for about 35,000 people, I'm really looking forward to it.

"It was through my civil engineering course and it's a project they have run for a few years. It got stopped last year but they started it up again, we basically had to organise it for ourselves.

"When we're there I won't be doing a lot of technical stuff, just helping out, labouring and getting my hands dirty.

"I've never done anything like this before. I've worked on a building site but I've never been to Africa."

In a matter of weeks, Rob, who still has family in Rishton, including a brother and his parents, will have to endure a seven-hour flight to the foreign continent.

And when he lands, along with 11 other student adventurers, he will then take a 10-hour bus ride to the south west of the country, to the small town of Mbarara. The group will be working with the Lasallian Developing World Projects organisation, and will help local craftsmen build three rooms for the centre, as well as lay the foundations for later stages.

Rob, who went to Norden High School, said: "I wanted to do it because I saw it as something worthy that I could do for other people, but also for myself.

"It's something interesting that I wanted to do and to see some of the world.

"I think it's about four times further than I have ever been before.

"I'm a little nervous but in a good way. I just want to get going."

Before they leave, the group still must raise £18,000 to buy materials and cover the costs of the expedition. Anybody that would like to help should call Rob on 07708 649333.