A WOULD-BE mayor has finally put right a fatal error made by an ancestor when he jumped off the top of Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge today (Sunday).

Dave Roberts' great-great uncle Daniel McAllister was the first person to jump off the 160ft high bridge on May 4, 1913 for a drunken 6d bet. Unfortunately, the leap lead to Daniel's death.

More than a century on, Dave Roberts, 50, who is standing to be mayor of Middlesbrough as an independent, successfully completed a bungee jump in his forebear's memory and has already raised nearly £1,000 for charity.

Mr Roberts, who said his great-great uncle was the brother-in-law of Middlesbrough FC's then centre-forward Joe Murphy, said: "We've always known the story but we could never stand it up. It was only about a month ago that we made the link to who he was because we'd thought he was from another branch of the family.

"We found this extraordinary death certificate which says he died as a result of; 'shock and suffocation from drowning through jumping from the Transporter Bridge in a spirit of bravado whilst under the influence of drink.' Apparently he'd been drinking in a pub with his pal.

"We know he was 30 and married and he was a bit of a black sheep, but we can't find a photograph of him. I've just found out a bit more in the visitor centre that witnesses said he took off his waistcoat and completed a perfectly executive swan dive."

The former television executive and Middlesbrough FC commentator is asking people to stump up £2.50 - roughly what a sixpence would be worth today - to support him and raise money for the Middlesbrough FC Foundation. He will continue raise money for the charity for another two months and has a target of £3,000. Donations can be made by visiting http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DaveRRoberts