A village school near Alton will be able to build a new play area thanks to a leap of faith by their minibus driver.

Children at Bentworth CE Primary School will have a new den-making area next term thanks to four members of the school community who jumped out of a plane in a fundraising skydive.

Tony Dundon, the school’s minibus driver, and his daughter Evelina were joined by Rob Chaplin from the site team and Harley Fleming, a parent with two children at the school, on the dive.

The £2,120.94 raised will be used to help the school develop its Landscape Strategy – a way of improving the school grounds for teaching and learning, socialising and play.

Tony came up with the idea and decided to use the event to raise money for the project and to conquer his fear of heights. Children were shown the video and cheered seeing what Tony did for them.

He not only received cheers for his jump, he was also awarded a Community Award for what he had done for the school.

Headteacher Jo Ayres said: “I would do a lot for my school but I could not do that!

“Tony wanted to get the landscape strategy going and came up with the idea of a skydive to conquer his fear of heights. He asked three unsuspecting, kind people and they said yes too. 

“The children were so excited and when they saw the video of the big jump they gasped with awe.

“It was great to share how members of the community did something like this for them, to ensure they got the best opportunities especially as it was to increase their outside play. The den-making area is being installed in the summer and it is all thanks to these amazing people.”