THESE Pembrokeshire students set off on a summer holiday with a difference last week.

Instead of living it up in Ibiza or Magaluf, the destination for the 30-strong group was Baire Mara in Romania where they will help refurbish a run-down orphanage.

The students from Milford Haven, Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward schools were laden with bags full of donated items, many from generous Mercury readers, such as clothes, toiletries, toys and sweets when they left for Romania on Friday.

Hakin student Tom Warrell is making his second trip to Romania after catching the volunteering bug last year when he helped build a school for gypsy children.

Tom, 17, said: "I wanted to do something like this again because it's such a natural high when you get to see the kids' faces when you help them, it's so amazing.

"We're giving something back to people and it makes you realise that we don't know how lucky we are in this country compared to people like that. I want to help and do as best as I can. It's a good way to spend the summer holidays as well."

During their two week trip, the students will provide labour to help install basic utilities in the orphanage such as plumbing, sanitation and electricity, which are currently desperately inadequate.