FOR those who imagine retirement is for pottering around the garden and doing crosswords, great-grandmother Joyce Watson is proving otherwise.

The 69-year-old, from Peterlee, County Durham, fulfilled the dream of a lifetime three years ago.

Throwing caution to the wind, she took part in a charity abseil down the side of one of east Durham's tallest buildings, Lee House, in her home town.

Her nerves of steel allowed her to raise money for the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB).

Since then, she has never looked back.

She went down an aerial zip slide at Hardwick Hall, in Sedgefield, County Durham, in 2001 and abseiled down the side of the Marks and Spencer store in Hartlepool last year.

Today, Mrs Watson, who is two months short of her 70th birthday, is due to embark on this year's venture -an abseil down the front of the towering Baltic arts centre, on Gateshead's Quayside. The challenge is raising money for the RNIB.

She said: "I just started doing this when I saw the abseil in Peterlee advertised.

"It was something I had always wanted to do and thought 'now's my chance'.

"It is the sense of achievement at the end that I like. The worst bit is if you have a little climb to get to your starting point, or have to climb over a little wall. But once I am there, I am fine."

Linda Stephenson, from the RNIB said: "She is fabulous., she's extremely brave."

Mrs Watson, who spent 24 years working as a dispenser in a pharmacy until she retired four years ago, will be cheered on by most of her children and grandchildren.

She has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who live with their parents in Worcestershire.

She said they were all baffled by her new-found hobby.

She said: "They all think I am mad. I was not renowned for doing things like this before."

l About 1,200 people will take part in this weekend's fundraiser.

The RNIB hopes the event will set a new British record.

It takes place today and tomorrow, starting at 9am each day, and the RNIB hopes to raise £160,000.