A COMMUNITY bobby is abseiling off the Tyne Bridge this weekend in aid of charity.
Malcolm Barnes, a police community support officer in Catchgate, near Stanley, will abseil from the Gateshead side of the bridge on Sunday.
He is on course to raise about £100 for Cancer Research thanks to the local residents association and a florists' shop in Catchgate's North Road - both of whom have been encouraging people to donate.
The abseil should hold no terrors for PC Barnes, who served in the Army for 22 years and was a team leader in rock climbing.
After the Army, he worked as a coach driver before taking on a new challenge as a community officer ten months ago.
He is raising money for Cancer Research because his father died of cancer when he was aged two, and his stepfather also died from cancer ten years ago.
PC Barnes said: "Catchgate is a great community to work in and the local residents have been quick to support.
"The abseil will probably only last a couple of minutes but it will be time well spent."
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