A GROUP of courageous college staff have fallen from the skies to raise £2,000 for charity.

Five catering and security workers at Deeside College raised the money for the charity PAPYRUS by performing their first freefall parachute jump from 10,000ft.

The daredevil challenge is one of more than 100 different fundraising events organised by the college in aid of its chosen charity, which aims to help prevent teenage suicide.

One of the staff to take to the skies was Paul Shanley, the college’s security operative.

Paul, 38, said: “It was certainly a memorable experience. We all found it very enjoyable and would definitely do it again.”

The staff were joined on their tandem jump at Prees Heath, near Whitchurch, by an experienced skydiver, as they floated back to earth in about five minutes.

Paul added: “It was a very surreal experience, even though I was falling at 120mph for the first mile through the cloud cover.

“I had never done anything like this before, but never felt uncomfortable. The staff at the airfield were all very helpful.”

The other four participants in the challenge were Sodexo catering staff Sue Radin, Ceri Milner, Gavin Williams and Tilly Hayes.

Sue, Sodexo general services manager at the college, said: “The jump was both exhilarating and terrifying. We are all extremely proud to have raised a total of £2,000 for such a worthy charity.”