PENSIONER Kenneth Arscott is hoping for a soft landing when he celebrates his 80th birthday in February.

The great-grandfather from Alcombe has chosen to forego the usual shower of gifts for his milestone anniversary to carry out a sponsored parachute jump in aid of two charities.

Kenneth will be falling from the sky at Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon and hoping that his family and friends will dig deep to help boost the funds of the RNLI and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

"I decided I just wanted to do something stupid for my 80th birthday," Kenneth told the Free Press.

"Both the charities I've chosen are very worthwhile organisations and do a lot of good.

"It's going very well and I've got quite a bit of sponsorship already but I've still got lots of people to ask before I do the jump in a fortnight's time."

Kenneth said his family, including his wife Wanda, fully supported his unusual birthday celebration.

And, although it will be his first parachute jump, he is a relatively fit octogenarian in the making, still working five or six hours a day as a parcel courier.

"I've been doing this job for 18 years but I am intending to retire in the summer," he said.

"I like gardening and fishing and I've decided it's time I started living and enjoying myself."

Anyone wanting to support Kenneth's charity efforts with sponsorship can contact him on 01643 705517.

Photo: Steve Guscott