Walking on air (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Walking on air

SEAN Donnelly had his head in the clouds when he celebrated his birthday - hundreds of feet in the air.

The 57 year-old took to the skies for a daring wing walk with the Utterly Butterly team at Rendcomb airfield on Tuesday in aid of a children's charity.

He was rising to a challenge laid down by his mother-in-law Audrey Davis, of Tower Street, Cirencester.

Mrs Davis is president of the Cirencester branch of the NSPCC.

The wing walk was offered to the local branch but when no one came forward she stepped in and asked her son-in-law to do it.

He happily happily accepted the challenge.

Mr Donnelly, of South Woodchester near Stroud, said: "It was brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"I wasn't nervous as the pilot was very reassuring and knew what he was doing.

"Once you're strapped up you've got no chance anyway!

"We went about 400ft up and just over 100mph.

"It was very cold but the adrenaline rush was fantastic."

He was cheered on by his wife Den, his mother-in-law Mrs Davis and her husband Bernard and his brother-in-law Tony.

Mrs Davis added: "It was a lovely day for it and we had a great time.

"We're thrilled to bits."

So far Mr Donnelly's daring stunt has raised over £400 for the NSPCC's Child Protection Helpline and the family is hoping more people will make a donation to help the charity train child protection officers to man the helpline.

Anybody who would like to make a donation should call 01285 652844.