A group of teenage boys plan to cycle 1,000 miles each to raise funds for their voluntary work trip to build classrooms in Kenya.

Sidmouth College pupils Jacob Green, Sam Harris, Toby Wells and George Anning will shortly set off on the first 80 miles of a multi-stage sponsored cycle ride.

The teenagers hope to raise £6,000 to help pay for themselves to spend a month volunteering in Kenya, building classrooms for village children, enabling local communities to gain access to clean water and working on projects supporting endangered wildlife.

The first ride, on October 5 and 6, starts the group's plans to cycle over 1,000 miles each before Christmas next year.

Over two days the four boys they will pedal from Barnstaple to Plymouth along the Devon Coast to Coast route, with two parents accompanying them.

The voluntary work trip, supported by Sidmouth College, will be led and is fully supported by the UK organisation Camps International.

The boys plan to complete their GCSEs in 2021 before joining an experienced and qualified schools expedition team in southern Kenya.

Jacob Green, 14, said: "I am so excited about our cycle to Kenya idea and the money I will raise for my Kenya trip. In Kenya I am particularly looking forward to working in rural areas, living with the communities and helping to make a difference.

"Having lived in Sidmouth all my life, I know I am very lucky and I would love to be able to help where possible and personally gain a sense of achievement."

Sam Harris, 14 added: "We are all working hard on various fund-raising ideas. Between us we have found paper rounds, been busking, gardening, car-washing, cake selling and pot-washing.

"We are hoping to organise a Christmas party, a quiz night, a cream tea event and family fun day over the next 18 months. It's very busy, but exciting."

The boys are also hoping to be in Market Place and around Old Fore Street, in Sidmouth, on Saturday, September 28, to show and explain what they are up to.

Visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kids4kenya and help sponsor the local teens on their fundraising mission.