Daredevil granny Ellen McCunniff was on cloud nine for her 80th birthday celebrations.

For the sprightly pensioner marked her special day by plunging thousands of feet from a plane in a tandem parachute jump.

"My daughters arranged it for me," said Mrs McC-unniff, of Nab Wood, Bingley.

"To be honest, I was petrified as I stood looking out at the ground below.

"I couldn't believe what I'd let myself in for.

"But once I'd jumped it was really exciting, and for the first bit we were just free-falling.

"It was an amazing experience."

But it's not the first time the mother-of-four has been a high flier.

For she has also been treated by her family to a helicopter ride, a trip in a hot-air balloon and a Con-corde flight.

"You might say I don't like to keep my feet on the ground, but the truth is I live my life to the full - I don't want to have anything to come back for," she said.

"I was too busy bringing up a family when I was younger and didn't work until I was in my 40s at Marks and Spencer in Bradford, so I'm making up for it."

Mrs McCunniff's husband Ronald died after developing cancer 30 years ago.

She said she is certain he would approve of her daring adventures.

"You realise as you get older that you only have one life and you've got to make the most of it," said the keen walker.

She also swims for at least an hour every morning, saying the exercise keeps her young.

Her daughter Louise McCunniff, of Idle, booked the jump at the Skysports Parachute Centre in Brid-lington.

"There's no stopping her," Louise said.

"We checked with her first if she wanted to do it and she just said 'why not?'.

"We're really proud of her.

"No one can believe she's 80.

"Who knows what she'll be up to next?