A Thetford teenager is appealing for public support to help her win a trip to Africa to help build a school.

Millie Lawrence, 15, is currently competing against 29 other girls from across the country to become an ambassador for the charity UK Teen Dreams, which aims to educate youngsters on the importance of helping others.

It also gives a select few the chance to see first-hand how fundraising helps on the ground.

People can vote for the girls on the charity’s website, and the four with the most amount of votes will go through to the final. A panel of judges will then select the winner who will travel to Africa and assist with building a new school for deprived youngsters.

Millie, from Green Lane, Thetford, who attends St Benedict’s Catholic School in Bury St Edmunds, said she first found out about the competition at the Clothes Show Live in Birmingham.

She added: “They took my photo and asked if I could be entered into it - they said we’d go through to a number of rounds and compete.”

The teenager is now through to the penultimate round and, at the time of printing, had 117 votes.

She added: “I’ve never really done something so extravagant before and I thought it would be good to help people. I’m really excited – it’s something I’d like to get more involved in. If I won it would be amazing.”

For more information or to vote, visit the Teen Dream website at www.ukteendreams.com.