A BOLTON businesswoman is swapping running a posh hotel for volunteering in an orphanage in a poor area of Kenya.

For two weeks Jan Hampton, who owns the stone-built Egerton House hotel in Egerton, will be exchanging the oak panelled rooms of the hotel for basic amenities at the orphanage.

Ms Hampton has decided she will fund her own trip to help out at The Good Life orphanage in Mombassa, which was set up by a couple from Ainsworth. She will fly out next Thursday to spend a fortnight doing whatever is necessary at the orphanage — which could be cleaning the toilets, washing up or helping with the children.

She appealed for new underwear for the children and has negotiated an extra 10kg of baggage allowance to take some out on the flight.

Ms Hampton is also asking people to donate good condition clothes suitable for children from birth to around 15 years of age which can be shipped out in a container later. The only female hotel owner in Bolton said: “It’s something I have wanted to do for a while. I said to myself a while ago that I wanted to get involved in some charity work.

“I am paying for the flights and I will be contributing to my keep there as well, which I think is only right. They will pick me up from the airport and take me to the orphanage, which is about 30 km outside Mombassa.

“When I get there I could be doing anything, but I hope I will also be able to help using my business skills.”