A management consultant is ready to swap the city streets of London for the blue seas of the Pacific.

But this is no holiday, Olivia Clarke, formerly of East Peckham is joining Exxpedition Round the World - an international team of women doing their bit for the environment.

The former Weald of Kent Grammar student said: "I've always cared about what is going on in our oceans and protecting the planet.

"Working a full time job in the City, I don't get much of an opportunity to help, when I saw Exxpedition I thought it was perfect."

Exxpedition recruits hundreds of women from around the world to join different legs of an ocean voyage.

During each leg participants will be taking samples and researching plastic in the ocean with the help of an on board scientist.

Mrs Clarke, who now lives in London, said: "A big part of why I applied is you don't need a huge amount of credentials to take part.

"Doing this will teach me all about the plastic and oceans and help find solutions."

The 24-year-old is heading off to Tahiti and the Cook Islands for her leg of the project in April.

She will be joined by women from around the world, including fellow Brits, an air hostess from Australia and an artist from France.

Mrs Clarke added: "The kind of research we're doing is called citizens' science, so anyone can take part.

"What's great is it means there are all these women from different backgrounds that will come back from the trip with a better understanding of how we can all help the environment. We can then share that knowledge with other people in our communities."

Mrs Clarke isn't the only west Kent woman to be taking part in the expedition.

Paramedic, litter picker and keen sailer Bonita Baker-Robbins is also climbing aboard.

The 56-year-old from Loose will be setting sail a little sooner, as her leg of the journey starts in March.

To help Olivia Clarke get on board her journey, donate at tinyurl.com/oliviaclarkekm.

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