THE mayor of Chesham will be swapping chains of office for a parachute as he prepares for a nerve-shredding skydive.

Mark Shaw, who admits he's "absolutely petrified" of heights, will be leaping 15,000ft out of a plane to raise money for the Chesham Dementia Cafe.

There's no going back for Cllr Shaw after Strictly Come Dancing star Russell Grant - an ambassador for an Alzheimer's charity - tweeted news of his impending jump to his 45,000 followers.

A total of £2,000 has already been pledged for the Dementia Cafe, which meets at the Town Hall on the last Thursday of each month and is Cllr Shaw's mayoral charity for the year.

His daughter Beth, 20, will be joining him on the jump but Cllr Shaw said: "She said I should go out first so I don't cower at the back of the plane after she's gone.

"I'm absolutely petrified of heights - I can't even look at heights on the TV so this is a really big ask. I'm undecided on whether to do the jump with glasses on or without.

"I think I will be glad it's out the way. People who've done it have told me it's the most amazing experience but I'll only believe that when my two feet are on the ground again."

The jump takes place from an airfield in Hinton on the Oxfordshire/Northamptonshire border on Thursday, May 1.

Sponsorship forms can be picked up from the Town Hall or downloaded from the Chesham Town Council website, www.chesham.gov.uk, and any cheques should be made payable to Chesham Mayor.

Alternatively email mark2ba@hotmail.com or call 07951744656 for more information on how to sponsor Cllr Shaw.