DARING Nynehead pensioner David Manners has raised hundreds of pounds through a charity abseil for Cats Protection’s Taunton and Wellington branch.

He celebrated his 75th birthday by abseiling more than 100 metres down the Emirates Spinnaker Tower on Portsmouth seafront and has to date raised more than £1,300 to help the cats and kittens the branch cares for.

He said: “I volunteer for a very busy branch of Cats Protection and we find loving homes and support many unwanted cats and kittens every year.

“The whole experience was fantastic and was all over too quickly, but I would have just loved to have done it again immediately afterwards.

“I am delighted and so grateful to all those generous supporters who sponsored me for this adventure, and I have now achieved well over five times my original target. Thank you to all my sponsors!

“However, we are in constant need of funds so that we can continue, and hopefully expand our cat care work, so it’s still not too late to boost the kitty even further and this can be done at my Just Giving page. Visit www.justgiving.com/David-Manners7 which will remain active for a few more weeks.”

To give an unwanted cat a home or seek support with neutering costs – available to those in receipt of certain benefits – contact Cats Protection’s Taunton and Wellington branch on 03452 602397 or visit www.cats.org.uk/taunton