HAIRDRESSERS plan to switch their shampoo for shovels by volunteering at a South African orphanage.

Staff at FX Hair and Colour Studio in London Road, Leigh, are working with charity Coco’s Foundation to help the Umbombo orphanage, in Zululand.

The foundation aims to build a trauma centre for the Umbombo children, many of whom have undergone horrific experiences, for which they need counselling and care.

All the staff at the Leigh salon, owned by Mark and Jo Bidston, of Hadleigh Road, Leigh, plan to spend time working at the orphanage and have already raised almost £2,000 of the £20,000 needed to fund their flights and accommodation.

In Africa, they will work voluntarily for the orphanage, helping with construction.

Mark and Jo have also recently completed the challenging, Coast to Coast Walk for the foundation.

The couple completed the 192-mile walk, from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hoods Bay on the north Yorkshire coast, in just eight days, something which has so far only been matched by a group of paratroopers.

Their 15-year-old son, Harrison Bidston, a pupil at the Deanes School, Thundersley, has also visited the orphanage and helped dig foundations for a chapel.

Harrison was allowed time off from school for the trip, which also saw him sewing bedding and curtains for the trauma centre, making chicken coops.

Mr Bidston, 43, said: “At the beginning of the year we decided to donate £10 every month towards food for the orphanage and Jo has made beautifully hand-knitted blankets for the children’s beds.

“We were determined to make our mark with the walk and get the fundraising off to a good start.

“We were also inspired by thoughts of Harrison, who was working at the orphanage while we were walking.”

Fellow hairdresser, Sussex-based Chris Connors founded the Coco’s Foundation in 2010.