A VOLUNTEER teacher is finally preparing to jet-off to China after its Sars travel ban was lifted.

James Read, from Hanley Swan, has been looking forward to starting a two-year teaching placement teaching English in Nanchang, in the Jiangxi Province.

But he was growing concerned that the World Health Organisation's warning against travelling to China because of the spread of Sars would not be lifted in time.

"I was worried that starting to prepare might tempt fate and am very relieved that it's all under control now," said Mr Read. "It would have been so disappointing not to go."

The 34-year-old visited China last year for a charity walk along the Great Wall of China and is looking forward to returning.

"I knew that I wanted to spend some more time in China. People were so friendly and welcoming," he said.

He will be one of three volunteers teaching English to trainee teachers and will working mainly on improving his students' English listening and speaking skills.

He is an experienced teacher having worked in Japan and helping German, Russian and Korean students in the UK.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of working in a totally different environment. There could be as many as 70 pupils in my class - when I taught in Japan there were three."