A 70-year-old great-grandmother with a need for speed has completed a hair-raising wing walk to raise money for a charity which makes dreams come true for children with critical illnesses.

Jean Giles, of Tiptree, flew over Kent on Monday September 1 after taking off from the Headcorn Aerodrome strapped to the top wing of a biplane for the Make A Wish Foundation.

The eye-watering stunt came after Jean was unable to take part in the wing walk for more than a year, after raising £1,375 in donations.

It was originally planned to go ahead last September last year for her 70th birthday but the flying company she had booked with folded just eight hours beforehand.

Jean said: “I felt very disappointed and very upset when it was pushed back.

“I was well and truly gutted and in tears for weeks, so this time I didn’t get over-excited or nervous at all.

“I’d been let down so many times I just thought ‘Right – this is it’ and did it.”

The Original Factory Shop, where Jean works, has supported the Make A Wish Foundation since 2013 and has helped raised more than £500,000 for the charity.

Jean said: “One of the girls in the shop said we could try making money for Make A Wish.

“I only had put down a £500 target and we passed it with £1,140 at the end of October last year.

“I’ve always supported charities. I do lucky dips out my own pocket at the shop and anything I raise goes to Make A Wish.”

She added: “As the plane was trundling down the concrete, I thought ‘What the hell am I doing?’ but then I was up in the air and the scenery was just terrific.”

Daughter Corinna Foster, Jean’s daughter, said: “Mum was also really worried all the local donators would think they had been swindled because by now a year had gone by.“But she finally got to do it yesterday and had an absolute blast – she’s already thinking of doing something similar for her 75th.”