Southend's daredevil mayor risked life and limb when he took to the skies in a bid to boost his two favourite charities.

Tony North was joined by Julia Amess, wife of Southend MP David Amess, in a wing-walking stunt above the town.

The pair willingly harnessed themselves to the wings of a 1940s-vintage Boeing Stearsman before it took off and carried them up into the clouds, giving them a fantastic view of the estuary.

Mr North decided to try out the air acrobatics while watching the Utterly Butterly Barnstormers wingwalking team at the Southend Airshow in May.

Now Helen Holness, of the Utterly Butterly team, believes he is utterly hooked on the sport.

She said: "Mr North seemed really excited about trying out wingwalking and when he came down he immediately asked when he could go wingwalking again.

"There are not many people, including mayors, who would have done what he did. He is very brave."

Mr North hoped his daring escapade would raise awareness of his favourite charities, the Southend Toy Library for the Disabled and the Southend Centre for the Royal Association of the Deaf.

Mr Amess said: "I think Julia and Tony are both incredibly brave.

"I am happy to say that I was on Parliamentary business at the time so there was no question of my joining the team. But they had my full support and admiration."

Risking life and limb - Mayor Tony North, left, joined by Julia Amess, below, on the daring wing walk

Pictures: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.