A KEEN conservationist is embarking on an expedition to South America which will see him following in the footsteps of prehistoric creatures.

Richard Sutton, of Kendal, will be spending two weeks in September working alongside leading research scientists looking at dinosaur fossils found in the Ischigualasto Provincial Park, Argentina.

The 57-year-old earned his place on the Triassic Park project after he was awarded an Earthwatch Millennium Award, a scheme designed to give people aged 50 and over the chance to take part in international conservation work.

"You hear a lot about young people going off on these sort of trips but not often older wrinklies like me!" said Mr Sutton.

The retired teacher, who used to work at the Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge, will spend a fortnight carrying out scientific research in the park, which was last year declared a World Heritage Site, because of its international significance in fossils from the Triassic era.

Once he is back from his trip, Mr Sutton's work will not be complete, as a key part of the Earthwatch scheme is to encourage people to use the new skills and techniques they have learned to set up an environmental project back home to benefit the local community.

"It's not just a free trip to South America, it's designed to help raise my own awareness of conservation of a particular area and to teach me different techniques that will help me put something back into the community," said Mr Sutton.

"That part is equally as important as the trip."