TWO Blackburn students are to jet off on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Costa Rica -- thanks to a Lancashire brewer.

Louise Hogg, 16, of Cutler Close, Bank Top, and Chris Cook, 18, of Pinewood, Feniscowles, will head to Central America in late July for a two-week trip, sponsored by the renowned Daniel Thwaites' Travel Scholarship.

Louise, a student at Blackburn College and Chris, who attends St Mary's College, will spend time living and working with local families to learn about their way of life.

They will participate in community projects and environmental campaigns, as well as visiting National Parks, rainforests and turtle hatcheries.

Chris said: "I have never really ventured out of Europe, so I'm looking forward to this and have been researching the area. I am most looking forward to seeing the rainforests, but am also excited about seeing the turtles and white-water rafting."

Thwaites has funded the travel scholarship, run in conjunction with the Experiment in International Living, for 44 years.

Experiment in International Living, an international non-profit organisation, was founded in 1932 in the United States. It engages individuals in intercultural living and learning by arranging placements throughout the world. Participants are placed with host families with the aim of studying languages and cultures.

The Thwaites Scholarship is open to all students at schools and colleges within Lancashire. Interested institutions recommend candidates, who are then interviewed on their reasons for wanting to go. Ten students from Lancashire will take part this year.

Thwaites' president John Yerburgh, the great-great-grandson of Daniel Thwaites and founder of the Travel Scholarship, said: "So many young people from our region have benefited since the programme was launched in the late 1950s, mainly through hands-on experience which encourages them to appreciate and respect cultures from all over the world.

"The trip to Costa Rica has the promise of being one of our best-ever adventures."