A BIDFORD man is braving shark-infested waters to ensure a group of youngsters have a Christmas they will never forget.

Neil Lawrence, aged 43, from Glebe Close, will join three of his colleagues at the Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire today as they try to raise enough money to send sick children on a Christmas trip to Lapland, where they will meet Father Christmas.

Mr Lawrence, operations director for Jewson, plans to spend at least 30 minutes in the six-metre deep Caribbean Reef Exhibit tank, and will come face to face with 12 sharks of three different species, including sand tigers, nurse and lemon sharks.

The dive has been organised by Jewson, who are working with the When You Wish Upon a Star charity, which grants wishes to sick children as part of its 'together' initiative.

He said he was hoping to raise more than £3,000 and had already received pledges for more than £2,000.

He said: "In my view, it's probably better to swim with sharks than sit in the boardroom with them.

"We thought it was something that would catch the imagination. I'm quite relaxed about it. In fact, I'm more worried about the diving than swimming with the sharks.

"I'm told there's been more than 15,000 people diving in the tank and they've never had an incident, but there's always a first time."

If you would like to sponsor Neil for every minute he braves in the tank, contact Caren Reynolds on 02476 438485.