Two fearless women from Herefordshire whose families have been affected by heart conditions took a daring leap from the sky to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Grandmother Penny Morpeth, from Luston and 23-year-old Eleanor Dobson, from Ross-on-Wye, both leapt 12,000 feet out of a plane in a charity tandem skydive at Tilstock Airfield.

Thanks to their efforts, the two have raised more than £800 for the BHF, which will fund life-saving research into heart and circulatory conditions.

Eleanor, a visitor experience assistant at the National Trust, was inspired to take part in the sky dive after her father, Nicholas (58), required a quadruple heart bypass following a heart attack in 2017.

Eleanor, from Ross-on-Wye, said: “Dad has always been fit and healthy and he cycles long distances every day. He was in the US when he had the heart attack and it came as a complete shock to all the family. He received a quadruple heart bypass whilst he was in America, and since returning home, he has continued to stay fit and is living a relatively normal life.

“When Penny asked me to take part in a skydive to raise funds for the BHF, I jumped at the chance. I wasn’t nervous at all – it was the best experience of my life so far. It’s great to know that the money we have raised will fund the life-saving research carried out by the BHF.”

Penny was inspired to organise the fundraiser after a recent milestone birthday.

The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-one, who volunteers at the National Trust, said: “I’ve always wanted to do it, so when I turned 70 in March last year I thought right, now is my chance.”

Anyone interested in fundraising for the BHF can call Karen Robinson, BHF’s Fundraising Manager for Herefordshire, on 07388 945024 or email [email protected] or visit www.bhf.org.uk/yourway