A STOCKTON quantity surveyor is heading for Denver, Colorado, later this month to help with an attempt to break the balloon altitude world record.

British explorer David Hempleman-Adams is trying to break the Fdration Aronautique Internationale record of 10,859 metres, set by Per Axel Lindstrand in 1996.

Kirsty Fetches, 23, who works for Mears Social Housing North, is part of the volunteer support team for the attempt.

The Mears Group is sponsoring the record bid and providing the back-up team of eight.

Miss Fetches, of Saltburn, had no idea that her branch manager had put her forward for the team.

She said: "I was gobsmacked when I was told I'd been chosen.

"I'd had a really bad day and when I found out it was fantastic. I couldn't believe it - it's a brilliant challenge."

She sets off for the six-day trip on March 22, with the record attempt scheduled for March 24-25.

She said she was looking forward to it .

She said: "I've never even considered doing anything like this before and it's a totally new thing to me. I'm going in blind, but to help David break the record would be excellent.

"I'm not sure exactly what we'll be doing, but I understand there are two technicians and we'll be taking orders from them and David."

She added: "I don't know if I'll get the chance to actually go up in the balloon, but if I do I'll just jump in and go for it."