An accountant from whg will travel more than 5,000 miles to the African continent to share budgeting advice with locals.

Brian Smartt, of Walsall, will set off on March 15 for the expedition to Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The assistant development accountant will be joined on the 18-day mission by the pastor from the church he attends, Calvary Apostolic Assembly in Hockley.

The trip will involve numbers-man Mr Smartt teaching local people how to budget and manage their money to make ends meet. He and Rev Jeniva Mpofu will also deliver Biblical teaching and carry out preparatory work ahead of setting up an orphanage in Botswana.

He took a similar trip to the Caribbean in September and said the experience had inspired him to do more of the same.

He said: “I am very much looking forward to my forthcoming trip. I have a passion for helping people and making a difference by passing on my skills and sharing my faith.”