The mayor of Epsom and Ewell conquered her fear of heights for charity by abseiling off a racecourse roof on Saturday.

Mayor Sheila Carlson took the 90ft plunge from the top of the Queen's Stand at Epsom Downs Racecourse along with her son Andy.

The abseil was in aid of Princess Alice Hospice, which provides support for people with terminal illnesses in their homes or in the hospice itself, which is in Esher.

The mayor said: "The abseil went very well. I am frightened of heights, I don’t feel very happy with them but I thought it would be a good challenge and I actually really enjoyed it.

"I was quite scared, but by the time I got to the bottom I had a feeling of a real buzz. I would be very happy to do it again.

"The Princess Alice Hospice charity does a great job and it has been a real pleasure to do something for it.

"Andy and I have raised about £500 through the abseil so far and we hope that once all the donations have come through it will be close to £1,000."

Epsom Allsorts Ladies' Running Club, of which Mayor Carlson has been a member for 25 years, decided to support the charity in memory of its late member Sue Heals, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease and spent her last weeks in the hospice last year.

On Friday, the mayor opened the charity’s new furniture shop in Epsom town centre to go with its general clothes store.