Cream tea and scones

Photographed are - Caroline Dalton, husband Pall S. Palsson and his brother Haukur.

It was hosted by Barbara Burstow of Mayo Rise in support of her daughter's attempt to help endangered gorillas under threat of extinction.

Former Bexhill High pupil Caroline Dalton will soon set off from Bexhill on a three month motorcycle trip across West Africa.

Travelling with her Icelandic husband Pall, Caroline will bike across the Sahara, over mountains, along coastline, and through the rainforest ending in Gabon, which is in West Central Africa.

The couple plan to document their journey and produce a film, but they have also chosen to help two charities and so far have raised just over 2,000 for UNICEF.

Their second charity is the Zoological Society of London, which is an organisation devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats, including the Mikongo Conservation Centre in Gabon.

Caroline, now 31, grew up in Bexhill before leaving to study drama at Guildford School of Acting, where she met Pall.

As a youngster she hoped to be able to work with gorillas so now is at the start of realising her lifelong dream.

She said: I have always felt passionate about spending time with or trying to visit gorillas in Africa. Since I was at school I found them amazing."

She has been concerned about recent news reports of seven gorillas killed in Rwanda and commented: "These problems don't go away - they get worse. I have been saying to myself over the last few years that I really want to do something, and now we have decided to do this trip I can combine it with that."

The strawberry cream tea raised 200 which Caroline said she was "pleased" with.

She commented: "My mother said she may even hold another fundraiser for the Mikongo Project after we have left for Africa.

"Everyone that attended was very positive and many commented on what a unique and pleasant way it was to spend a Sunday afternoon - sipping tea, and eating jam & scones, and being serenaded by the piano - Ivora Seale played during the afternoon.

"Everyone was very intrigued by the journey we will take through Africa and I was touched by the amount of genuine concern people showed - woman motorbiking through africa....not your everyday holiday!

"I felt the talk I gave was well listened to and I heard many murmurs of concern there too regarding the issues I was raising.

"I would like to add that if anyone would like to donate money to the Mikongo Project they can do so by calling my mum Barbara 01424 219021."