Daring fundraisers abseil down New Art Gallery in Walsall

A total of 34 plucky participants prepared for the 110ft descent down the front of the gallery building on Saturday morning.

As well as prompting warm applause from passers-by stopping to admire their feats, they also generated more than £6,000 for The Haven Refuge in Wolverhampton.

Staff from city-based health insurance agency Paycare were among those taking part, including member Bonnie Webb, of Cradley Heath, pictured.

Staff from Dolomite Training in the Peak District were also on hand to make sure all 34 people made it down safely.

Haven spokeswoman Jade Secker said: "For the majority of them doing it, it was their first ever abseil.

"It was really inspiring and rewarding to see so many people willing to take on a personal challenge to support us and help raise awareness."

Anthony Burns, aged 45 and from Penn, steadily stepped off a platform dangling a few feet below the top of the gallery and began shuffling downwards one foot at a time.

But the sales and marketing worker soon gained in confidence and switched to a short jumping motion managing to get to the bottom in a relatively swift one minute and 38 seconds.

He said: "I have done one before at Dudley Castle, probably about ten years ago now. This was a bit easier because it was smooth terrain whereas the castle has got lumps and bumps.

"I'm petrified of heights. The views are spectacular at the top but when you start you just don't look down."

Anthony added: "We have partnered with the Haven and it is a very worthwhile cause."

Next to take the drop was first time abseiler Alison Buckingham, aged 55 and from Wolverhampton.

She said: "I am afraid of heights which is why I wanted to try and conquer it. I don't think it has done that but it went better than I thought it was going to.

"I am still shaking but I am so glad I have done it. Being a woman I was glad to do it for the Haven."

And wearing a very appropriate 'Superman' t-shirt 20-year-old Dudley man George Conlan was next to soar over the edge of the gallery.

He said: "It is the first time I have done it off the top of a building, I have done a bit of rock climbing.

"I am alright with heights. It is a bit daunting before you go over the edge but that is human nature. I quite enjoyed it really getting to shoot down a building."

Staff from Dolomite Training in the Peak District were on hand to make sure all 34 people made it down the wall safe.

The fundraiser marked the culmination of events ran by The Haven centred around International Women's Day last Wednesday.

The charity provides refuge accommodation and resettlement support for women and children affected by domestic violence.