Ref. 25570-52ABSEILERS raised thousands of pounds to help leukaemia sufferers by descending from the top of the WH Smith headquarters.

More than 100 fundraisers from Swindon abseiled down the side of the office block in Greenbridge Road, raising £10,000.

The event was organised by the Anthony Nolan Trust, which manages one of the world's largest registers of would-be bone marrow donators

Among those taking part in the 100ft abseil were sisters Kay Scarratt and Tracy Kingsley, who lost their father to leukaemia. Anthony Scarratt died at the age of 47 in 1980.

Between them, the sisters, who had never abseiled before Saturday's event, raised nearly £400.

Kay, 43, of Eastleaze, Swindon, said: "You get a real adrenaline rush when you go over the top.

"Luckily, I don't mind heights."

Tracy, 39, of Oxford Road, Swindon, found it more difficult.

She said: "I didn't look down until I was half way to the bottom. It was exciting though."

Tracy was given moral support by her son Sam, 12, and husband Stuart, 40.

Watching the two sisters was their mother, Valerie Hill, of Pasture Close, Westlea, who said: "I'm very proud of them. They had a big incentive to do this."

Overseeing the event was Andy Pollard, 32, an instructor in outdoor pursuits.

He said: "Everyone's been very brave today. The conditions are perfect because there's no wind.

"If people feel the wind when they get to the top of the building they get scared."

The bone marrow register maintained by the Anthony Nolan Trust provides hope for thousands of leukaemia sufferers who are waiting for a transplant.