TWO friends spent a month exploring Thailand – after having a brainwave that involved bat guano or droppings.

Jenna Allatt and Emily Harrop won a competition to travel abroad, after coming up with an idea for a small business in a developing country.

“It had to be sustainable and benefit the local economy,” said Jenna, of Holgrave Close, High Legh.

“Having done some research on Thailand, we hit upon the idea of building a special bat cave, which would allow local farmers to use the bat guano as fertiliser and would also allow tourists to watch the bats.”

After being announced the winners from more than 200 entries, the pair visited the country on which they based their idea.

They went to Bangkok, Lopburi, Kanchanaburi, Chumphon and the island of Koh Tao.

At a Buddhist temple they learned Thai massage techniques and the Thai language, rode the ‘Death Railway’ over the bridge on the River Kwai, visited the war museum, went elephant trekking and bamboo rafting.

The teenagers also went to an orphanage, learned how to cook food at a Thai farm and taught in a school for a day – despite the fact the children didn’t speak a word of English.

Jenna, 18, said: “Thailand is a beautiful country and experiencing the culture first hand, visiting places that tourists usually don’t have the opportunity to see, really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Her mum, Lynn, said: “I don’t think many teenagers in Knutsford would do that. Jenna said it was just such an experience going to all these places.

“It was a huge thing for two 18-year-olds to do. It was off the beaten track.”

The competition was open to 16 to 18-year-olds and was organised by i-to-i, a company that arranges gap years and volunteer programmes abroad.

Jenna had even more reason to celebrate, as she’s just gained five A grades in her A- levels in English language, French, business studies, maths and general studies.

She is now looking forward to going to Bath University in September to study international management and French.

Lynn said: “It goes without saying how proud I am of her. She’s done really well.”