JENNY ROBERTS freely admits to being scared of heights.

But it did not stop her stretching her nerves to the limit by abseiling down a 70ft tower . . . even though she trod a little gingerly on her descent.

Back on firm ground, 17-year-old Jenny said: "I feel extremely sick after that. I wouldn't do it again. Ever.

"I felt like I was going to fall and kept my eyes shut."

But despite her ordeal, she said it had all been worthwhile.

For she and seven other Duke of Edinburgh Award students were abseiling down the Horwich fire station training tower to raise money for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa.

The teenagers, all former students of St Joseph's RC High School in Horwich, are to spend three weeks in Kwa Zulu Natal this summer. They will help to renovate a deprived community school there and and teach English to the pupils.

But the teenagers must pay their own travel expenses and they have spent the last few months organising events to help.

Their latest idea was by far their most daring.

Janine Stott, 17-year-old chairman of the group, from Aspull, near Wigan, said: "It was the first time I have done anything like this.

"It was so scary. I was very nervous.

"My hands are hurting from gripping the ropes so tightly. I am excited to have done it, though. It's an achievement. It was worth five minutes of torture for three weeks in South Africa."

The group will be visiting Tembe, in the north of the country, bordering on Mozambique. The schools have 90 children in each class, no chairs or tables, and still have dirt floors.

Dorothy Weir, aged 57, who is Bolton's senior youth worker for outdoor education, will accompany the volunteers on their journey.

She said: "The £18,000 funding for the trip is being raised entirely by the young people involved. They all got their own sponsorship for this event with a minimum of £300 each. It will be their biggest fund-raising event yet."

Crown Paints, which has a base in South Africa, has donated paint to help brighten up the group's chosen host school, and hotels, air travel and rental car services have offered them big discounts.

The college students were instructed in abseiling by staff from the Duke of Edinburgh organisation and Bolton Youth Service workers.