AGE was no barrier when Peter Roscoe decided to take the plunge to raise funds for Bury Hospice.

The 79-year-old had not abseiled since 1966 until he embarked on the 128-foot descent down Peel Tower.

He was one of 84 abseilers who scaled down the tower on Sunday at five-minute intervals.

Mr Roscoe is expecting to raise more than £300 in sponsorship from his family and his friends at Brandlesholme Methodist Church and the Bury Red Rose Club for over 60s.

A regular abseiler in his younger years, Mr Roscoe says he was undaunted by the prospect of returning to dizzy heights.

He said: “I wasn’t nervous, I just took it in my stride. It’s no different now that I’m older, I just got on with it and did it. It brought back a lot of fond memories from when I was a young man.”

Mr Roscoe’s abseil was watched by family and friends from his church and cycling club.

Joining the band of daredevils was former policeman Jim Nisbet, who has so far raised in excess of £300 for Bury Hospice and his total is expected to rise even further.

Mr Nisbet, a funeral director at Fred Hamers Funeral Services, which has a branch in Walmersley Road, Bury, regularly supports Bury Hospice.

The 64-year-old, whose son, son-in-law and daughter-in-law also took part, said: “It was a lovely day and I really enjoyed it.

Bury Hospice has so far collected in more than £9,000 from the event.