A Dunfermline woman has abseiled off the Forth Bridge to raise money for charity in honour of her late father.

Kayleigh Cousins was one of more than 300 fundraisers who took part in the event on October 13 to raise money for 21 charities.

The event, which is run by Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, alongside event partners Network Rail and Balfour Beatty, has been running since 2003, returning last year after a break due to pandemic restrictions.

The fundraisers headed to South Queensferry to abseil 165 feet from the UNESCO World Heritage Site, raising essential funds for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and partner charities.

So far, the October event has raised more than £55,000 for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, with donations still coming in.

Kayleigh, who is a 20-year-old accounts assistant, took part in the abseil in memory of her dad Harry, who died three years ago in his 60s.

She said: "My dad passed away from a heart attack three years ago unexpectedly.

"He went out in the morning to the shops with my mum and then we got the phone call.

"It was a really tough time. I was thinking of him as I was doing the abseil.

"My mum, Jackie, had a stroke in the summer in the same year as my dad passed away.

"She recovered almost instantly but we didn’t have the best of luck that year.

“We’d just been on holiday over September 18th, which is the date my dad passed away, and the abseil popped up on Facebook.

"I wanted to do something and I’m glad I did because I had a great time and it’s for a great cause."

To donate to Kayleigh’s fundraiser, visit https://tinyurl.com/znx9369f.

Jayne Forbes, assistant director of fundraising at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: "Once again we’ve been blown away by the number of people taking part in the Forth Bridge Abseil to support CHSS and other charities.

"We are hugely grateful to everyone who took part to raise essential funds for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, allowing us to continue to support the 1 in 5 people in Scotland living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid."

Alan Ross, director of engineering and asset management at Network Rail Scotland, said: "Network Rail has a proud history of supporting Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and the Forth Bridge abseil.

"Sunday was another fantastic day, with over 300 thrill-seekers enjoying this magnificent structure."

Colin Hardie, construction superintendent at Balfour Beatty, said: "We are proud to have been part of the Forth Bridge Abseil and applaud everyone who bravely participated to support those living with heart, chest, and stroke conditions in Scotland.

"The event was a success with vital funds raised for this incredibly important cause."