A CHARITY abseil staged at Canterbury's Fisher Tower looks likely to raise almost £10,000 for good causes.

Seventy per cent of proceeds from the event will go to Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent and 30 per cent will go to the award-winning children's road safety charity Kent and Medway Walking Bus Group.

A total of 58 people took part in the abseil event at Canterbury Christ Church University with £9,248 pledged by participants on the day. Further commercial sponsorship should see the figure rise to £10,000.

The top fund-raiser was Susan Wilson who raised £545, with Seth Whitcher just behind on £500. Trudy Clarke, a vet nurse from River, Dover, wins the prize for best fancy dress outfit. She came dressed as a surgeon in full surgical gown and equipment. She raised £185.

Trudy and the top fund-raiser Susan Wilson, will both receive a prize from event sponsor Snappy Snaps digital photo lab in Rose Lane, Canterbury.

Other fancy dress participants included President of the student union at Canterbury Christ Church University Rob Thornburn, Spiderman, who raised £116. He picked a superhero he felt appropriate to the task.

Faye Mortimer from the Parry Sharratt Solicitors' team came dressed as a ladybird, while colleague Katie Noble came dressed as a fairy. John Vousden, works at Canterbury Christ Church University, and lives in Whitstable raised £170 and came dressed as Scooby Doo.

The oldest participant was 82-year-old Ted Abbotts from The Foreland, Canterbury who raised £175.

The charity event's sponsors were Snappy Snaps digital photo lab, Fairview New Homes and Parry Sharratt Solicitors. The funding from these firms covered the costs of the professional abseil firm Avalon Adventures, which staged the event, and meant every penny of sponsor money raised by participants will go to the charity pot.

Simon Dolby, event promoter and chairman of the Walking Bus Project, said: "The event was a success thanks to the enthusiasm of the public and our sponsors, and backing of the Kent Messenger group.

"We had a good crowd of spectators cheering on every abseiler as they landed. The staff and management of Canterbury Christ Church University were extremely supportive in helping us to stage this abseil, for which all of us involved in the event are very grateful."