AN all-girl parachute team have waited two years to make their first jump and raise hundreds of pounds for charity.

Nicole Ward persuaded her aunt, Alyson Bell, and best friend Sarah Nevins to join her in the stunt but had to wait until she reached her 16th birthday before it could go ahead.

The two girls are interrupting their GCSE studies to make their big leap at Peterlee Parachute Centre on Saturday, May 24. Both are pupils at Wolsingham School and Community College.

Nicole and special needs tutor Alyson, who live in Wolsingham, are raising money for the Make a Wish Foundation, which arranges treats such as trips or meetings with celebrities for children who are terminally ill.

Sarah, 16, from North Bitchburn, is sending her sponsorship to Breast Cancer Care as a tribute to her mother, Christine, who is undergoing cancer treatment.

Nicole said: "I have wanted to do this since I was 14 but I was not old enough. Now I can't wait. I am counting the days.

"Alyson and I chose the charity because we both love children and I want to work with them when I leave school."

The trio hope their efforts will raise at least £350 each.

Alyson, 38, will be doing a 10,000ft free-fall tandem jump, while Nicole and Sarah will make static line jumps from 3,000ft.