Abid Hussain, who owns Abu Bakar chain of exotic superstores in Hyde Park and Roundhay Road, is flying out to Kenya with a team of volunteers from the Islamic Relief charity's Leeds/Bradford branch.

It's all part of a major new project, Action 4 Africa, which aims to help poverty stricken people in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Projects include water aid initiatives and survey/analysis work.
The team will stay in the Mandera province and visit outlying villages, spending time with local communities and evaluating their prime needs.

Mr Hussain, 39, who started his superstore empire from a tiny corner shop almost 25 years ago, said: "We are so fortunate living in Britain in relative luxury.

"I have been in the Leeds area all my life and done well.

"I wanted to go out there, redistribute some of my wealth and hopefully put a smile on somebody's face.

"We are the ambassadors for the Leeds and Bradford community."

Mr Hussain is flying out for two weeks with fellow West Yorkshire volunteers Tariq Hussain, a taxi driver, Mohammed Sultan, who works for West Yorkshire Probation services, and Jamil Aziz, a structural engineer.

Mr Sultan, who has been a volunteer with Islamic Relief for more than a decade, said: "We want to give hope to people and show them they are not forgotten."