A LOCAL radio presenter is leaving the Lakeland airwaves behind to embark upon a thrill-seeking trip around the world - and she is taking The Westmorland Gazette along too.

Lakeland Radio breakfast show presenter Sarah Newman has decided to embrace her lifetime dream of travelling the world and she has chosen to share her experiences in a new travel blog for The Westmorland Gazette's website.

The 25-year-old former Queen Katherine School pupil has been a familiar voice on Lakeland Radio for four-and-a-half years - but she has always had a passion for travel.

"I've have always enjoyed going on holiday and I've have always wanted to go travelling but it never felt right until now," said Sarah.

"Too many people have regrets about not doing these things and I don't want to be one of them. It is scary giving everything up that you know to go into the unknown, but I am very excited."

Miss Newman, who did work experience at The Westmorland Gazette while at university, has chosen New Zealand as her first port of call when she leaves later this month.

"I have chosen to go to New Zealand as it is somewhere that I've always wanted to explore. I have recently started trying different adventure sports and I believe that New Zealand is the place to go for that."

Thanks to her colleagues at Lakeland Radio, Miss Newman will be able to experience the ultimate kiwi' adrenaline rush of bungie jumping after they decided it would be the perfect leaving present for her.

Miss Newman is also hoping to go to Australia and Fiji, although she is being careful not to make too many plans.

"I just want to go with the flow and see what happens," she said. "I am quite anxious about it, but at the same time that drives me and I can't wait for it."

Miss Newman said she would miss working at Lakeland Radio, although not the early mornings, and she hoped that her listeners would keep track of her whereabouts by reading her blog.

To read Miss Newman's travel blog, visit www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk Lifestyle and Travel section (link below).