AN Urmston police officer has returned from a once in a lifetime trip that saw him helping street children in Africa.

PC Jason Hunt went to Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, for eight days from November 21.

There the 41-year-old helped out at a children’s centre that provides youngsters with schooling, medicine, counselling and food.

His duties included helping to clear out the shelter and decorate it for children to carry on enjoying for years to come.

Jason, who has been with the Trafford Division for the past 17 years, said: “It was an amazing experience and extremely rewarding. The children were all really lovely and it was a pleasure getting to know them.

“Seeing the poverty there was indescribable, it was a very emotional trip.”

In the lead up to the trip Jason, who lives in Lancashire, undertook a series of gruelling challenges that included cycling 99km from Manchester to Blackpool.

While in Ethiopia he ran 10km in 24 degree heat and at high altitude for Manchester charity Retrak, which helps with projects such as the refurbishment and repair of halfway homes for street children.

Jason, based at Urmston and Partington NPT for the past five years, was one of 12 Greater Manchester Police staff selected to travel to Addis Ababa and then asked to raise £2,000 each for Retrak.

They also completed a 38km hike across the Yorkshire Dales and a 10k run through Manchester to help raise the money.

Urmson businesses Murray’s Quality Fresh Foods and Manacare Charity Shop helped support Jason throughout these tasks.

The dad-of-one added: “Retrak’s aims and values around keeping young people safe are very much in line with GMP’s and I am delighted to take part in such a worthwhile event and use my skills to help those who really need it.”

To support Jason visit justgiving.com/jason-hunt10.