Gran, 83, abseils from 140ft cathedral tower

Anne Eyre starts her descent from the 140ft (43m) North Tower

An 83-year-old woman has abseiled down Exeter Cathedral's 140ft (43m) North Tower to raise funds for the ancient Devon landmark.

Anne Eyre was the first of 54 abseilers to descend the wall of the Norman tower to reach a £50,000 target for a new cathedral window.

Mrs Eyre, widow of a former Dean of Exeter, said it was a "fantastic" experience and she would "look back on it with great pleasure".

She "wasn't scared" and thanked the rope handler for giving her "absolute confidence".

Anne Eyre abseils down the tower to raise funds for the cathedral

Anne Eyre said she was not scared and thanked her rope handler

She had originally planned to complete the abseil in 2020 to celebrate her 80th birthday but the pandemic and hip troubles intervened.

Mrs Eyre's granddaughter Cecily Crawford, who also took part, said: "I actually think I was more worried about her than I was myself, but I'm just so proud of her."

Abseilers were raising funds for a window in the cathedral’s new Cloister Gallery building, which will connect the cathedral to its 13th Century Chapter House and Pearson Buildings.

The new structure is part of a programme of conservation and improvement works taking place as part of the cathedral’s development appeal project.

Onlookers watch the multiple abseil at the Devon landmark