SHE is terrified of flying, afraid of heights and usually keeps her feet firmly on the ground.

But in the name of her favourite charity - St Catherine's Hospice in Lostock Hall, near Preston - Claire Caunce has put her fears to the wind, and is about to jump out of a plane thousands of feet in the air.

The dare-devil sales manager, who works at Matalan in Bamber Bridge, will take to the air for a sponsored parachute jump, with three equally committed colleagues on October 4.

Claire, 23, who lives on Worden Park estate in Leyland, explained how it came about: "We were in the pub one night and I agreed to do this stunt. The next morning I woke up and thought: 'Oh no, what have I done.' But it was too late then!

"One of the guys taking part has never even flown before!"

The fearless foursome are hoping to raise £1,000 for the Brick by Brick appeal to help pay for a new day care centre at the hospice.

"We saw it advertised in the Citizen and we wanted to contribute something," said Claire.

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