Mayor so delighted to be the fall guy!

Sir Peter Soulsby took the plunge from the side of a 100ft building for a charity abseil.

The mayor was one of 100 people who lowered themselves off the side of the Ramada Encore hotel, on the corner of Charles Street and Halford Street in Leicester city centre, on Saturday to support Leicester Charity Link.

Sir Peter, who last abseiled in 1989, dangled briefly high above a cheering crowd of onlookers before eventually lowering himself safely to the ground.

He said: "It was amazing. I wanted to go straight back up and do it again to be honest. It was quite a feeling.

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"I wasn't nervous beforehand but I had checked the small print to see if there was anything that said someone older than 62 couldn't to it and sadly there wasn't.

"It was great fun but the most important thing was to support Leicester Charity Link. It is a fantastic organisation which supports many people in real need."

Sir Peter and a team of his mayoral staff raised more than £700 for the charity.

He said his team deserved most of the credit for their hard work in collecting the sponsorship money.

Each year, the charity helps more than 5,000 people in the city in poverty by providing basic items such as beds and cookers.

The mayor did the abseil along with the High Sheriff of Leicestershire Richard Brooks and his wife Diana.

Mr Brooks, 58, said: "It was very exhilarating but strange to lean back into a void.

"I enjoyed it but I was hoping none of the hotel guests would open their curtains to be greeted by the strange sight of me and my wife dropping by."

Leicester Charity Link director of marketing Sue McEniff was the first abseiler of the day.

She said: "It was terrifying but you have to lead by example. I'd like to thank all the people who took part and the hotel."

Dan Seager, 12, from Loughborough was the youngest participant.

He descended alongside his dad Andy, 37, who is head of accounts at law firm Bray and Bray. Between them they raised £400.

Dan said: "I've never done anything like this before. It was brilliant.

"I didn't look down until we were nearly at the bottom."