A DAREDEVIL grandma with a taste for hair-raising rides is planning to be catapulted hundreds of feet above the North Sea in a charity stunt.

Annie Dowd, 67, of East Street in Helmshore, Rossendale, is to have a go on one of Blackpool's scariest attractions in a bid to raise money for Haslingden's cash-strapped Manchester Road Methodist Church.

The church has just launched a £400,000 appeal to help pay for a repair and refurbishment project and Mrs Dowd will be sponsored to ride the Skycoaster alongside vicar Ieuan Johnston and his wife Barbara on August 25.

The trio will be strapped into harnesses, hoisted into the air and catapulted over the sea by the ride at the end of the resort's South Pier.

Mrs Dowd, who has two grandsons, said: "We used to go to Blackpool for our holidays when I was little and I was always on the Pleasure Beach - I love rides.

"I'm looking forward to the Skycoaster and hope to raise more than £400." The sponsored ride is just one of a series of events organised by members of the church.

The money, which will hopefully include a grant applied for through the Action for Haslingden group, will pay for repairs to the roof and windows and alterations inside the building to help make the church more user friendly to community groups.

Members will have a cake stall at the Haslingden Street Fair on August 21 but to make a donation or to find out more contact Kathleen Shirt on 01706 220072 or Mr Johnston on 01706 215633.

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