A PRESTON grandmother is jetting off to work with children with disabilities.

Olwen Pritchard, 57, of Stocks Road, Ashton, leaves for South East Asia on September 29 to spend two years with the international development agency, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

The plucky gran is renting out her home, selling her car and has quit her job in preparation for her Indonesian challenge.

Olwen will work as an administration manager at a clinic in Bandung, West Java, which aims to improve the quality of healthcare for children.

And, after working with adults with learning and physical disabilities in Preston for more than 20 years, Olwen is raring to go and is looking forward to learning the language.

Olwen said: "I felt the need for a change and was listening to the radio when I heard about a 68-year-old volunteer riding a motorbike around Vietnam. It sounded fantastic and I decided to find out more."

There is no turning back for Olwen as she prepares to meet people from different cultures and helps to tackle the crisis in the South East Asian country where, according to VSO chiefs, the number of people living below the poverty line has trebled in the last five years.

"I'm quite adaptable and cope well in different situations, but I'll miss my family and friends, especially my grandchildren. I may be making a return visit in May next year though, when my son Alan gets married."

To find out about the VSO call 020 8780 7500.