A BRAVE veteran leapt into action at the weekend to raise hundreds of pounds for charity.

Jim Towns, of St David's Close, Tudhoe Colliery, completed a 10,000ft parachute jump on Sunday in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.

The 76-year-old answered an appeal in the monthly newsletter of the Durham Light Infantry Association's Durham branch to take part in a sponsored tandem jump.

Mr Towns, who served with the Army for 12 years, was the only member of the branch to volunteer.

He said: "I was pleased to do it, I felt a mixture of excitement, fear and pride.

"We waited around for nearly ten hours at Peterlee Parachute Centre for the weather to be right.

"I had to watch others jump before I went with an instructor. We dropped at about 120mph and I just kept waiting for the parachute to open and to reach the ground."

Cheering Mr Towns on from the ground were his wife Betty, and family from Tudhoe Village and Cardiff.

He said: "It was nice they were there. The important thing was that I can help people, especially older people, by raising £511 for the Society."