Daredevil granny Barbara Brown completed a charity abseil and then declared she intends to try hang-gliding!

Mrs Brown, 63, of Fairweather Green, joined 70 fundraisers who abseiled 74ft down the Stakis Hotel, Bradford, yesterday for Marie Curie Cancer Care's Bradford hospice appeal.

She said she decided to take the plunge as she wanted to have a go at the exciting sport before she became too old.

And when she had her feet firmly back on terra firma she was immediately planning her next adventure, although she has ruled out bungee jumping.

"You can keep thinking about doing certain sports, but the time comes when you just have to do it," said Mrs Brown, a former nurse.

"When I was younger there were not many opportunities like this - so I have just decided to do it.

"I have just retired and thought what could I do. A few months ago when I went paragliding for the first time in Tunisia. Now I fancy having a go at hang-gliding."

Although she admitted to being "slightly nervous" before her abseil descent, Mrs Brown gritted her teeth and went for it.

Abseiling instructor Julie Barber, said: "She's a natural. We've had a lot of younger people being a lot more scared than that."

Husband Jack Brown, watching from a nearby bridge, said: "I was a bit apprehensive, but she's a game girl."

Mrs Brown, who has a daughter and two stepsons said: "I'd definitely do it again. The worst bit was when I was halfway down - my legs weren't long enough to reach the wall!"

"My family are really proud of me but some of my friends just think I'm crazy."

She hopes to have raised more than £100 for the Marie Curie appeal by taking part in the daring challenge. More than £3,000 was raised on the day.

The charity plans to build a new £5.2 million hospice at Leeds Road Hospital.

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