FIVE Netheravon teenagers are preparing to leap from an aircraft 3,500 feet over Salisbury Plain to help raise funds for repairs to the roof of the village church tower and to buy equipment for a village Millennium park.

On Monday Alanna Harris, 17, Stacey Harris, 17, Steve Smith, 16, Calvin Shenton, 17, and Amy Taylor, 17, together with first reserve Richard Johnson, 19, went to the top of the church tower to see where the repairs are needed.

Maj Gwyn Burton, of the Army Parachute Association at Netheravon camp, has organised the jump, due to take place on November 4.

The fearless five, who all live in the village, have set themselves a target of raising at least £800 to offset some of the £3,500 still outstanding on repairs to the tower roof at All Saints Church and contribute to the cost of the park. The tower repairs will cost a total of £7,000.

Maj David Thatcher, a member of All Saints Parochial Church Council, who is helping the teenagers plan the jump, said: "They will be jumping from a height equivalent to 52 Netheravon church towers piled on top of each other and have set themselves the target of raising £800, which would have been the cost if the jump hadn't been so generously given free by the Army Parachute Association.

The tower repairs were the start of a major restoration programme.

The teenagers will be getting six hours training before they take to the skies.