A "CAT-crazy" student is set to make a trip of a lifetime to do a "spot check" of leopards.

Helan Trisorio, 19, has had a love for all things feline ever since her grandma bought her a cuddly tiger to mark the Chinese year in which she was born.

Now, she will get the chance to come face to face with the big cats as part of a four-week project in a Sri Lankan forest.

She will study the leopards and help rangers stop others hunting them for sport and fur in May.

Helan, a former pupil at St Bede's, Blackburn, said: "I have always been fascinated by big cats and have loads of cuddly tigers that my grandma has bought me over the years.

"I never dreamed I would get the opportunity to study leopards in the wild with some of the best trackers and rangers in Sri Lanka.

"It will be great fun but also a massive challenge.

"We will be camping for most of the trip in the forest without any bathroom or washing facilities. And all our food will be cooked by using one great big pot over a fire.

"The camp will be in the North province of Sri Lanka, close to the second biggest Sri Lankan city, Kandy. And although temperatures will be up to around 34 degrees, we have been warned that it is the monsoon season.

"I have been told by the end of just the first week I will be able to identify which leopards are around and whether they are male or female just by looking at their paw prints. I am really looking forward to getting as close as possible."

Despite the obvious dangers the forest is also home to lions, snakes and elephants Helan, who lives in New Bank Road, Blackburn, is not worried about getting up close and personal with the cats.

And her family are not worried either as most of them are mad about cats too.

The English literature and theatre studies student at Chester University added: "My sister Louisa has loads of lion teddy bears and likes them so much she adopted one of Chester Zoo's lions.

"Her fascination with lions was again started by my grandma who bought her a lion soft toy when she was a baby as her star sign is Leo.

"My family know I will have to overcome a lot in Sri Lanka not least the language barrier and the local food but they think I am doing something really positive and have told me to go for it.

"I just hope I can help make a small contribution to the fantastic work that is going on out there to protect the local leopard population."

l Helan's trip is organised by the Wilderness Foundation, which is supported by the Born Free Foundation, Save the Rhino and the Wilderness Trust. She needs to raise £1,500 for the cost of the programme and her flight.

All funds go to the World Wide Experience Trusts and foundations to help animals and communities overseas. If you would like to offer Helan your support you can call her on 01254 582364 or email her at helan_trisorio@hotmail.com