Oxford Mail reporters will go to any length for a story, even if it involves a 100ft drop, a hard hat and a harness.

And so yesterday fearless fundraisers taking on the John Radcliffe Hospital abseil challenge were led by a three-strong team from the Mail.

Reporters Amanda Williams, Fran Bardsley and Rhianne Pope tried not to look down as they edged towards the 100ft drop and were followed by more than 100 other plucky participants.

The Mail team raised more than £400 for the hospital’s charitable fund, despite what Ms Bardsley described as: “A combined fear of heights, hospitals and getting up early on a Sunday morning.”

The 30-year-old was the first to touch down on the ground, ahead of her colleagues.

She said: “It was really good fun and I’m glad I did it.

“As I imagined, the bit going backwards over the edge was really nerve-wracking.

“The views up there are spectacular.”

For Miss Williams the experience was less enjoyable as she found herself confronting a fear of heights at the top of the building while her friends and family watched from below.

Afterwards she said: “The man at the top deserves a medal for trying to get me down.

“I really honestly didn’t think I was going to do it when I got to the top – I made the mistake of looking around.

“Then I heard my family cheering and clapping and I thought I’m going to look like an idiot if I don’t do it now.”

Miss Pope added: “My knees were going up there. I just thought the faster I do it the faster I get to the bottom.”

Overall the day is expected to raise more than £25,000 for causes across the hospital including the Oxford Cancer Centre, the Heads Up Head and Neck Cancer project, and Cellular Immunology Research.

Nicky Maskens, from Headington, abseiled down the hospital despite waiting for a bone marrow transplant on July 24 to treat the blood disease, mielodisplasia, which she suffers from.

Along with her 18-year-old son Anthony, his girlfriend Alicia, 19, and her other son’s partner Dawn Costar, 36, the 57-year-old raised £1,500.

She said: “I just wanted to make a contribution. I found the staff on the haematology ward to be so supportive, you trust them 100 per cent.”

Mum and son team 54-year-old Shirley and 28-year-old Rupert Belcher from Benson raised over £2,000.

Mrs Belcher said: “I’m overwhelmed by the money people have pledged.”