DAREDEVILS showed their mettle during a dizzying charity abseil down a Worcestershire clock tower.

Fifteen people signed up for the gut-wrenching challenge at Abberley yesterday in aid of Children Today, which provides equipment for disabled children.

Nervous fund-raisers gingerly ascended hundreds of spiral stairs to a balcony above the clock face, 161 feet off the ground, to begin the challenge, set to raise around £1,200.

Emma Fawcett, regional fund-raising manager for the charity, completed the challenge herself in 2010, despite her vertigo.

Ms Fawcett said: “It was nerve-racking. The hardest bit is getting over the wall at the top.

"It’s worth it to be up there, just for the view. I have had people in tears by the time they come down but we have had three events here and never had anyone back out.

“One of the reasons we like challenge events is that the children we help face a challenge every day of their lives. When someone does something like this they’re just getting a little taste of that.”

Experienced mountaineer Richard Hogan from the firm Rock and Ice was on hand to help.

First to take the plunge was Rebecca Clarke, aged 40, of Warwick, who was cheered on by daughters Daisy, nine and Lilly, eight, dad Mike Rockcliffe-King and best friend Lorraine Powell. Mrs Clarke, completing her first abseil since an outward bound trip at school 25 years ago, said: “With the amount of steps you have to climb to get up there you’re trying to get up without passing out.”

Mrs Clarke even spotted a deer in the fields below her during her descent.

Next up was Nicola Winfield, 26, of London but formerly of Kidderminster.

She said: “The first bit is pretty terrifying. You can’t tell where your feet are going to go.

"After that it went really quick. The hardest part was going over but also trying to find my feet because there was a gargoyle in my way.”

Her brother John Winfield, 23, of Kidderminster, had been frightened of heights since he was a child and did not enjoy a childhood trip up Blackpool Tower but yesterday conquered his fear.

He said: “It was a little bit scary. It got quite windy. I was getting blown back a little bit. When I got over the edge the bell rang. That was a bit ominous.”

Mum Marian Winfield, watching them from below, said she was proud of both of them.