A charity’s press release about its 60th birthday celebrations led a newspaper photographer to do a 10,000ft tandem skydive.

Marie Curie Cancer Care was appealing for fundraisers to do a skydive over Lincolnshire to celebrate six decades of caring for patients in their homes.

Toby Roberts, from the Grantham Journal, was ‘dared’ by a colleague to do the jump after the story landed on the weekly title’s newsdesk.

The 27-year-old said he’d come close to doing a skydive on several occasions but had never actually taken the plunge until now.

“I made the decision at the beginning of June so didn’t have too much time to think about it which is a good thing,” he said.

“The weather was brilliant and we had a fantastic view.

“I was nervous but more excited as I had been really looking forward to it.

“When I was sitting on the edge of the plane my heart was in my mouth.”

Toby, who has worked at the Journal for eight years, has collected more than £400 for the charity with donations still coming in.

The whole experience has had such an effect on the photographer that he is now thinking of taking a course which would qualify him to do solo jumps.

He added: “I was told by a few people that once you do it, you will want to do it again,” Toby added. I thought ‘I’ve heard that before’ but they were right.”