FIVE ‘Local Heroes’ have come forward to help Malmesbury charity HEALS raise thousands of pounds throughout June in aid of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in and around the town.

Now they are looking for another 25 to join their Be A Local Hero campaign – in particular those with a head for heights who don’t mind plunging out of an aircraft in a skydive.

Heals volunteer general manager Alison Cross-Jones said: “Our aim is to get 30 Local Heroes in Malmesbury during the month – and we’ve got off to a great start with five on the very first day of the campaign.”

Local Heroes are men and women willing to do something a bit different to raise money for the charity, which aims to help, empower and support local people in poverty and those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged.

One of the first to become a Local Hero was aid worker and Liberal Democrat Dr Brian Mathew, who was the runner-up in the battle for North Wiltshire in the General Election.

He will be taking part in Yatton Keynell’s Wrong Way Round cycle ride from Hyde Park Corner to the North Wiltshire village on Sunday, with a target of raising £500.

The money will be split between HEALS and the Nepal earthquake relief fund.

Town councillor Ken Wright, Holly Grant, who is the daughter of town councillor and HEALS chairman Gavin Grant, Stacey Fry, of Hair&Nails@44, and care home worker Emma Farrer are all doing sky-dives with the aim of raising a minimum of £350.

Mrs Cross-Jones said if the sky-divers raised £350, this would include their £175 for the dive.

She said: “We'd like to find 24 adventurers to complete a jump. If people don’t fancy that we are hoping they will come up with other ways of being a Local Hero to help those in need in our community.

“There’s all sorts of stuff they could come up with - for example get sponsorship for going to work in a zany costume."

Money raised from the Local Hero initiative will go towards a variety of vital local initiatives, she said.

Skydiving jumps are from Salisbury and there are six spaces available on a number of dates. Anyone interested in this or other aspects of the Local Heroes campaign can contact Heals at their offices in High Street, Malmesbury, call 01666 238100, visit the website at www.heals.co.uk or email them at heals.malmesbury@gmail.com