A young animal lover has raised enough money for a once in a life time trip.

Abi Pearce, 17, who attends Colchester Royal Grammar School, organised an archery shoot with a difference with the Braintree Bowmen.

Abi, of Sandwich Close, Braintree, said: “I wanted to go on a trip abroad as lots of my friends had done something similar.

“I decided to do something with animals as I like them, and my animal skills are much better than my people skills."

In order to fundraise for her trip to Costa Rica to volunteer at a sloth sanctuary, the archery club that she has been a member of for two years, the Braintree Bowmen, organised a fundraising event which saw people shooting arrows at pretend animals.

In total, she raised about £300, despite the first day of the shoot having to be cancelled due to poor weather.