When Western Gazette editor Martin Heal was offered the opportunity to launch himself from the top of an eight-storey building to raise money for charity – he didn’t exactly leap at the chance.

Still, he agreed that abseiling off the roof of Yeovil Hospital was an excellent way of making much needed money for the leading North East Somerset NHS Trust service – and he was willing to give anything a go – at least once.

So was he relieved or disappointed when the event scheduled for this month – had to be postponed because of building work on the hospital roof?

“It is just putting off the evil day,” he admits. “Though, in a sadistic sort of way I am also quite looking forward to it.”

Martin, whose paper is leading the Flying Colours campaign, which hopes to raise £1m to transform the inside of the hospital, was preparing to do the jump with colleague Nikki Donnelly.

While Martin hoped to represent The Western Gazette, Nikki was set to abseil in the name of the Gazette and Yeovil’s Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

Martin said: “By the time it is back on the calendar sometime later this year I will probably have passed my 60th birthday. So I will be going over the top in more ways than one.”