This autumn, Shepton Mallet-based charity, SOS Africa, is organising its toughest, largest and longest fundraising event to date - a 124ft freefall abseil from the North West Tower of the iconic Wells Cathedral.

Popularly known as "one of the most beautiful English cathedrals" with a history dating back to the 12th century, the cathedral staff have generously granted SOS Africa and abseil specialists Aardvark Endeavours the opportunity to organise this one-off event to raise funds for SOS Africa and Wells Cathedral.

From Friday 27th September to Sunday 6th October from 9am to 5pm, brave participants from across the country dressed as their favourite characters from children's books will climb the 262 steps to the top of the tower (the height of nine giraffes) and freefall abseil from a cantilever platform assembled on the tower roof.

But before they take the plunge, they will be able to savour breath-taking views from across the Somerset Levels to Glastonbury Tor and beyond.

When they touchdown safely at the base of the tower they will have secured vital reading support for another child in South Africa and raised invaluable funds for the upkeep of the cathedral.

The SOS Africa charity was founded by a gap student Matt Crowcombe from Shepton Mallet in 2003 to fund the education of underprivileged South African children and now operates four education programmes supporting 178 children across the country.

Since 2011, SOS Africa has organised charity abseil fundraising events from iconic landmarks across the UK including a sponsored abseil from Glastonbury Festival's Pyramid Stage in 2014 which raised more than £40,000.

Matt said: "This is the 10th annual fundraising event we have organised for SOS Africa, including Pyramid Stage abseils and 24-hour lock-ins at Shepton Mallet Prison.

"In my opinion, this is the greatest challenge to date, and we cannot wait to get started."

To participate, abseilers (minimum age 12, maximum weight 17 stone) are required to pay a deposit to cover instructor's fees.

Once registered, they are required to raise a minimum of £100 per person before completing their abseil. To enter, the charity asks individuals or team leaders to do the following:

Email Team Leader info (name, email and postal address), team members names and email addresses and preferred abseil date/time to [email protected].

Transfer deposits (Adults: £20/U16s: £15) using your individual or team name as a reference to: SOS Africa, 40-47-28, 32032554.

SOS Africa will then email to confirm registration, abseil date/time and provide an online fundraising page address within 24 hours.

This is a one-off event and places will be limited so the charity recommends signing up and sending the deposit as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

SOS Africa would like to thank Wells Cathedral and Aardvark Endeavours for supporting the event and Montana Scaffolding and Riley's Cranes for erecting the platform ready for the abseiling to commence this autumn.

St Andrew's Street alongside the Cathedral Green will be closed from the junction with Vicars Close from September 17 to 19 to enable the scaffolding to be set up, and from October 10 to 12 for it to be removed again.