BURY’S Mayor is being hailed for her “towering” achievement after she bravely abseiled 128ft down one of the town’s premier landmarks for charity.

Despite being battered by strong winds, Cllr Sharon Briggs successfully lowered herself down Peel Tower to raise money for her chosen local charities, Making Space and the Bury Cancer Support Centre.

Around 90 other daredevils also took part in the Tower Challenge on Holcombe Hill on Saturday for the same good causes.

Cllr Briggs, a Radcliffe North councillor, was joined by her daughter and mayoress, Natalie Wells, to make it a family double.

The mayor said: “It was frightening. I can’t believe I’ve done it but I’m really glad I have. It was very scary and the wind was really strong and it sort of interfered and kept blowing me off course. But I’m so pleased and proud of myself that I’ve done it.

“I would say it took me about five to 10 minutes, longer because of the wind. At one point, I was blown around the tower.”

Cllr Briggs said the abseil and the location had been chosen for her charity challenge, primarily because of the significance of the landmark.

“The tower is synonymous with Bury and it seemed the obvious choice,” she said.

Cllr Briggs said her daughter had been “very brave”.

“In the end, it was quite testing,” she said. “So far, I have gathered more than £200. And thanks to all the others who took part, the amount of money raised in total will make a good figure once it all comes in.”