ORANG-UTANS have always fascinated Gayle Hart -- now she is travelling from Baxenden to Borneo to help the threatened apes.

The 39-year-old mother of two has numerous orang-utan ornaments at home and sponsors one particular great ape, called David.

She is a member of the Orang-utan Foundation and will join other volunteers to rehabilitate orphaned orang-utans into the jungles of Borneo.

She is taking six weeks off work at a Blackburn vending machine firm, to travel to Tanjung Puting National Park.

"I've been interested on orang-utans all my life. I like all animals but orang-utans are my favourites, because they're so clever and human-like," explained Mrs Hart, of Shap Close.

"Sadly, they're facing extinction, unless we do something about it. The situation is a crying shame and its man's fault.

"Young orang-utans are rescued from rain forests, because their mothers are often killed by illegal timber-loggers and gold miners.

The youngsters are later released back into the jungle. But orang-utans could become extinct, unless things change," she warned.

"Wildlife organisations are trying to get orang-utans back into the Borneo jungles. I've wanted to do something like this for so long, but haven't been able to do so, because of family commitments. But my children are older now, so it's a bit easier for me."

Her eldest daughter Laura-Kay Kay, 18, runs the LK Discounts Shop at Great Harwood, while 15-year-old Rachael is a pupil at Baxenden's Hollins Technology College.

Husband Richard works for Automotive Applied Technologies, in Accrington.

She said they were all pleased for her, and knew how excited she was.

"I've always loved animals. I have a white dog called Alaska, who is a Collie-Boxer cross. And I've had two rabbits and eight pet rats in the past. The rats all had names, including Duty, George, Nibbles and Bob, who was named after the reggae singer Bob Marley. I'm Bob Marley-mad," quipped Mrs Hart.

In Borneo, she will help renovate Camp Leakey. Although she will not directly handle the apes, she hopes to see them at close hand.

She travels in May and has been busy raising funds for costs. Help has come from friends and family, and her manager at Blackburn firm VMI, Mark Molnar, who has donated £500.

Mrs Hart expressed her thanks to everyone. She has £1,300 and needs to raise another £700. She can be contacted on 07742 349 720.