DOZENS of daredevil Calne teddy bears took a leap of faith from the roof of St Mary's Church tower in a parachute jump to raise money for charity.

Teddy bears of all shapes and sizes were given a last cuddle by their owners before they were strapped into parachute harnesses and lifted to the top of the tower in a basket.

The teddies' parachutes were clipped on to a nylon safety line and then one by one they were dropped to the ground.

Chairman of the Friends of St Mary's Philip Mann, said: "It was tremendously successful and a marvellous morning. We did it last year and no doubt we will do it again in the future. It was a lot of hard work for a lot of people, but it was a great fun."

Children arrived at the church with their bears between 10am and 12pm on Saturday and paid £2.50 for each jump.

The teddies were taken into the church to have their photographs taken before they were harnessed into individual parachutes, or if they were small they were strapped in two at a time.

The fearless teddies made the ascent to the top of the tower in a potato basket, which was attached to a pulley system. When they reached the roof they were connected to a safety line on a scaffold tripod, with an arm that extended beyond the roof, giving them a clear drop.

Mr Mann gave the brave teddy bears plenty of encouragement on the public address system as they descended and before they reached the ground they were caught by the Rev Bob Kenway.

The Friends gave the bears' owners a certificate adorned with a three-panelled church window.

In the middle panel there was the teddy's picture, in the right panel the teddy's name was specially written, and in the left panel there was a line to say that the bear had jumped to raise money for the Friends of St Mary's.

Mr Mann estimates the Friends raised £300 from the bears' parachute event, which will be used to maintain the church.

He said: "I don't know where the idea came from. As far as I know it just came out of the blue, but I'm sure it will be repeated."

adavey@newswilts.co.uk