A TEAM of daredevil opticians will be stepping into the unknown this weekend to raise funds for the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

A five-strong team from Specsavers in Northallerton plan to put their trust in ropes - and training - when they abseil down North Tees University Hospital in Stockton on Sunday.

Store director Stephen Thomas, along with optical assistants Mark Tyler, John Sinclair, Alex Ross and Louise Lowen, hope to raise hundreds of pounds.

Louise, who has never abseiled before, admitted she was nervous. "I am just trying to concentrate on the fact that we will be raising money for a good cause," she said.

"I am sure that once I am up there, enjoying the fabulous views, my nerves will disappear."

The RNIB holds sponsored abseils from buildings across the North-East to raise funds to help blind and partially-sighted people throughout the region.

Abseils from the seven-storey North Tees University Hospital will take place on both Saturday and Sunday with a total of 150 people signed up to have a go