Fundraisers abseil for Blind Veterans UK

With help from the 40 Commando Royal Marines, the staggeringly high 120ft zip wire stretched from the corner of one of Brighton’s most iconic buildings into a gradual descent to the grassy bank below.

Fearless zip-liner Clint Moody, 60, self-employed, from Crawley, said: “It didn’t bother me at all. I was looking for my wife to give her a wave.

“It’s great fun, it’s really good fun, I enjoyed it. It’s my first time, but you know you’re in safe hands.”

One enthusiastic participant said she really needed another mile of the line to enjoy it more.

Although not everyone went into the experience with a cool head when standing at the peak.

Tony Ludbrook, 63, captain of The Downsman Bowls Club, said: “I was thinking I’m not sure I want to do this.

“Honestly you can see why people back out at the last minute because there is that initial drop.

“In the end you think well, we’ve raised all this money, we’ve raised nearly £800 amongst us, can’t let the people down.”

Participants strapped themselves into safety and harness gear on the ground, while members from the 40 Commando Royal Marines checked the fastenings.

Event volunteers then lead the groups up the building’s stairs to the roof.

Once at the top, two more Royal Marines secured to the zip-line start point carried out further security checks and gently encouraged each step to the ledge.

Distracting nervous fundraisers from the birds-eye views over the English channel, the marines chatted and worked around each one until their legs were swinging beneath them before they knew what was happening.

Eyes closed or open, participants slowly shuffled off the edge and dropped into suspension from the waist ropes with the marines above holding the weight.

Seconds later the ground is beneath their feet again and everyone walked away with beaming smiles.

For more information on Blind Veterans UK, visit: www.blindveterans.org.uk