A brave grandmother from Hethersett said she has 'no choice' but to fly out to Egypt later this month to help oversee her children's charity which is based in the protest-hit country.

Connie Tindale, 65, a mother-of-two and grandmother-of-one, set up the Little Stars Luxor Children's Trust four years ago to help youngsters who do not have proper access to medical treatment.

Mrs Tindale last got back from Egypt only two weeks ago before the demonstrations calling for the end of the president's 30-year rule escalated.

The protests in Cairo against President Hosni Mubarak, which have so far seen more than 100 deaths, have led to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advising against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez.

But despite the warning that is currently in place for travellers to the trouble-hit parts of Egypt, Mrs Tindale said she will have to get out there.

She said: 'I run a charity out there and haven't got much choice - we've got 350 children in our care. I've got a flight out on February 16 and will have to go regardless of the FCO warning.

'I'm very worried because none of the food parcels will have gone out now and I can't see how they will. I'm very apprehensive but I've got no choice - I have to go.'

Mrs Tindale, who lives in Egypt for half the year, said Luxor has not avoided the problems which to date have mainly centred on Cairo.

She said: 'There's a lot of government buildings burning - the fire brigade building has been set alight - and there are looters about.

'This is going to devastate Luxor - it's got no other industry (other than tourism) whatsoever.'

The charity was formed in May 2007 to try and better the appalling conditions in which many of Luxor's orphans, disabled and disadvantaged children exist rather than live.

Earlier this week the Evening News reported how Norwich pub landlord Chris Higgins had just returned from a two-week break in Egypt where he witnessed how the whole country has been plunged into turmoil.

Mr Higgins, who runs the Trafford pub on Grove Road, Norwich, had been staying at Sharm el Sheikh, a tourist resort which has not suffered from the violence which has hit the major cities - although he was well aware of the protests in Cairo.

If you would like to find out more about the Little Stars Luxor Children's Trust log onto www.littlestars-luxor.org.

Have you been caught up in the trouble while on holiday in Egypt? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk.