FIREWORKS will be going off when Kelly Isherwood from Rossendale starts her job as an au pair in the USA.

The 18-year-old will be joining her new family in Melrose, Massachusetts, just in time for Independence Day celebrations.

Kelly, who lives in with her family in Loveclough Fold, is flying to the States next week to begin a year living as part of an American family with the Au Pair in America programme.

After a four-day orientation course near New York City, she will travel on to the Lesser family in Melrose arriving in time for the July 4 fireworks, parades and carnivals.

Kelly is about to finish a nursery nursing course at Accrington and Rossendale College's Blackburn Road centre in Accrington.

In the States she will be looking after three children, a three-month-old baby girl and her brothers aged three and seven.

She said: "I've wanted to go to America for ages but never got round to it.

"I'm just finishing a nursery nursing course and am going straight after. I can't wait any longer.

"It will give me lots of experience for the future and also living in a completely different country will broaden my horizons and give me tons of self confidence," she added.

Au Pair in America sends more than 4,000 young people each year to spend 12 months living and working in the States, and is strictly regulated by the US government.

All au pairs are placed in carefully vetted families and are arranged in cluster groups with a local community counsellor who provides help and guidance throughout their stay.

It welcomes applications from 18 to 26-year-olds with practical child care experience and a full driving licence, and can be contacted for a brochure on freephone 0800 413 116.

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