A BOURNEMOUTH woman is heading out to Nepal to help with the relief effort following the devastating earthquakes.

Summer Abrahams will spend a fortnight in the stricken country to volunteer her services.

According to official figures, total of 8,635 people died in the first earthquake in April, which was followed by another earlier this month, thought to have killed another 218 people.

The earthquakes brought down buildings in Kathmandu and the country's central districts.

Summer said that thousands of people were still living in make-shift tents and there were also fears the monsoon season would bring further landslides.

She said: "Organisations such as the Disasters Emergency Committee and the UN are still strongly appealing for help from the public through donations since the situation is still desperately urgent and the inhabitants need emergency aid including food, medicine, tarpaulins and hygiene kits.

"I decided to volunteer again following my last volunteer trip to the Philippines in November 2013 when Typhoon Haiyan struck.

"I have seen the devastation these catastrophic events can cause and now familiar with the treacherous conditions, feel I can put good use to my annual leave by flying to the affected areas and working to help the clean up operation, to include clearing debris and rubble of which there is masses.

"The damage is extensive and reconstruction cannot begin until the aftermath is cleared and this is where considerable help is needed."

Summer qualified as a lawyer in 2012 and as an advocate the following year and works for Bournemouth and Poole firm Laceys, which is paying for her flights.

The first quake, known as the Gorkha earthquake, also saw around 19,000 injured.

The second quake struck on May 12, injuring another 3,500 people.

Nearly half a million people were displaced as a result of the devastation.