A SHOPKEEPER is preparing to climb to the craters of three live volcanoes to help fund a new school.

Karen Howard, 46, who has owned clothing shop La Ruche in Loughton High Road for 20 years, plans to scale the three peaks, all in Guatemala, in January.

“It will be an adrenaline rush,” she said. “The middle-sized one is erupting between 12 and 14 times a day and from the highest one, you can look down into that.

“It's mainly smoke, but the group up there last week had to make a run for it because as the smoke came out, there were rocks in there.

“I have to carry a 75-litre rucksack and I've been training with that.”

The three volcanoes - Pacaya, Acatenago and Fuego – are between 8,000 and 13,000 feet tall and are some of the most active in the country.

Ms Howard is raising money for the Education for the Children Foundation, which gives free education to five to 18 year-olds in Guatemala and will be opening its own school in the new year.

She volunteered at one of the charity's projects two years ago and said it opened her eyed to the poverty in the country.

“It was a complete contrast to my Loughton retail world,” she said. “It gives you an insight into how difficult life is for other people.

“The children have no chance of another life other than what they can achieve through education.”

To sponsor her trek, visit www.justgiving.com/karen-howard.