TWO big-hearted carers from Clacton are setting off to a remote part of west India to help build a nursery.

Mum-of-three Dionne Gray is leaving her family behind to take part in the project in Goa.

Luke Stephenson, 20, is joining her on the two-week expedition. They both work at St Clare’s day nursery in Tower Road.

Manager Pam Welsh said: “It’s not a holiday at all – it’s going to be full on hard work.

“They are taking the skills they have to quite a deprived part of Goa and will be passing on those skills.

“They have been collecting things like pencils and crayons because they are a bit of a luxury for children over there.”

Dionne and Luke are paying the full cost of the trip themselves. They have held sponsored walks to fund the trip, and parents at the nursery have also helped out.

Dionne’s mother and husband are looking after her children while she is in India.

“It was now or never – a once-in-alifetime opportunity for her,” said Pam.

“They are both very good at their job and both very good with children.

“This is a way of sharing what they have learned over the last few years with the children and people of Goa.”