A KIND-HEARTED chef will swap her kitchen utensils for hiking boots when she treks across the Ethiopian mountains for charity.

Lisa Allen, head chef at the Michelin starred restaurant Northcote near Langho owned by celebrity chef Nigel Haworth, will take up the gruelling 80 kilometre hike on October 10.

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The 33-year-old from Clitheroe, who has regularly appeared on BBC 1’s Saturday Kitchen and the Great British Menu, has raised more than £4,000 for Action Against Hunger, and said she has always been ‘very passionate about fundraising’.

Mrs Allen said: “Action Against Hunger is close to my heart and I wanted to try and do something special for such a worthwhile charity.

“Since I had my son it’s opened up my eyes to how much support children and families need just to survive.

“It’s a mixture of nervousness and excitement that I’m feeling for this, but I have always been very passionate about fundraising.

“Fingers crossed the training I’ve been doing will be enough to see me through this challenge.”

The mother-of-one will complete the trek through the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia with former Rossendale chef Andrew Nutter.

Other chefs joining in the challenge will be Frances Atkins, Jobe Ferguson, Ross Mackenzie, Adam Tomlinson, Mary-Ellen McTague and Ruth Allan, in a bid to raise more than £100,000 for the charity.

Robyn Loftus, events co-ordinator and Mrs Allen’s colleague, said: “We have been supporting her with collection buckets, and trying to get as many donations from guests around the hotel.

“Though we won’t be in Ethiopia with her, we’ll be cheering her on from here and wish her all the luck with the challenge.”

Their challenging journey will last for four days with steep escarpments and rocky trails with altitudes reaching as high as 4,400 metres.

Cllr Allan Knox, of Clitheroe Town council, said: “It’s a great thing to take on and impressive that Lisa will do something like this for charity.”