TWO daring young travel agents more used to getting on planes are taking the plunge and jumping out of one instead in a daredevil challenge close to their heart.

Ashleigh Davison, 28, and Ebonie Bruce, 20, have agreed to swap their desks for the feat not for the faint-hearted in a bid to help families affected by autism.

Ms Davison's little brother, five-year-old Ayce, have received invaluable support from the Daisy Chain charity after he was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

The pair, who both work at the Cockerton branch of Hays Travel in Darlington, will leap out of the plane at 7,000 feet on May 11, which also marks Ms Bruce's 21st birthday.

She said: "Every time I think about it my heart starts jumping out of my chest but I am excited to do it and it is great to be raising funds for such a worthwhile charity."

The two travel agents hope to raise £800 for Daisy Chain and hope to raise awareness about autism itself, with Ms Davison adding her family often find it difficult and stressful to visit public environments with little Ayce.

Ms Davison said: "Both my parents feel sometimes people are staring at them and thinking Ayce is being naughty when he is not.

"We always raise money for charity through Hays Travel Community Partnership Fund and when we saw the skydive on the Daisy Chain website, it really appealed to us as something we could do. It seemed like fate."

She added: "I can’t do runs or other challenges, I would rather jump out of a plane than that."

However, autism awareness is nothing new to the travel agents who often work with families booking holidays with special arrangements so youngsters can enjoy travelling without becoming stressed or anxious.

Ms Davison said: "We can arrange fast track through security, lots of airports have quiet lounges now where families can get away from the crowds.

"We also organise specific rooms in hotels where they will be most comfortable perhaps at a low level without a balcony.

"My parents are going on holiday this year with Ayce for the first time because we can sort out these elements which make travelling a much calmer prospect."

Those interested in support the pair can visit daisychainproject.co.uk/event/skydive-2019 or call 01642-531248.