A Territorial Army soldier is swapping her normal job in front of a computer to tackle Mount Everest.

Computer programmer Louise Daveron, from Hollins, is one of 20 soldiers from the 93 Signal Squadron, based in Blackburn and Manchester, who have been chosen to go on a four-week expedition to the mountain's Advance Base Camp.

On Sunday Corporal Daveron and the team will fly via Beijing to Lasa City in Nepal where they will visit the Potala Palace where the Dalai Lama used to live.

From there they will use 4X4 vehicles to cross the Tibetan plateau before starting a gruelling 11-day trek to the base camp, height 7,000m, supported by local sherpas as guides and yaks to carry all the tents and camping equipment.

The adventure will be a far cry from Louise's day job as a computer programmer with Tameside Council. The 43-year-old said: "This is a fabulous opportunity for me to see Tibet and trek up to Advanced Base Camp on Mount Everest."

In preparation for the mammoth trek, Louise has been training in the Welsh mountains and on weekday evenings around Peel Tower at Holcombe.

She said: "I've been carrying a heavy pack and walking up and down the hill at a very fast pace. The ascent of Everest will be very slow due to the lack of oxygen in the air at high altitude, but the heavy weight carried in training will build up my leg muscles and the fast pace will increase my lung capacity."

The experienced TA soldier will use the expedition to help raise funds for the Cinnamon Trust, a national charity aim at providing elderly or disabled people with support for their pets. Louise is a volunteer with the charity.

She said: "For company I've been training with a little Jack Russell named Minnie. I've been taking her out every week for over three years and she's really enjoying the extra long walks she's getting while I'm in training.

"I'd love a dog of my own but I am unable to because of my busy lifestyle. I'm keen to promote the charity because it enables people to enjoy the company of their pets for longer than would do otherwise."