A PLUMBER felt the fear when he jumped out of a plane at 12,000 feet to raise money for charity.

Kevin Shanks, 47, of Chingford Mount Road, in Chingford, completed a tandem parachute jump with a 7,000 feet free fall at Headcorne Aerodrome in Maidstone in aid of Haven House Children's Hospice. 

The plumbing and heating engineer said: “I have done a bungy jump for charity but wanted to do something different.

“It was really nerve-racking. I was the first of three out of the plane and it was weird jumping into nothing.

"When I jumped I was travelling so fast it took my breath away, but when the parachute opened it calmed down. I was shaking afterwards, but it was a real buzz.”

He said his wife Kathy was a little nervous beforehand and was relieved to have him back in one piece.

He added: “It was a good thing to do and to raise money for those little kids.”

Mr Shanks raised £620 for the Woodford Green hospice.