HAMPSHIRE’S very own daredevil gran plunged from the skies to successfully complete her mission to help in the fight against blindness.

Without a hint of fear 90-year-old Jo Anstey donned her parachute for the charity skydive to thank Southampton eye experts whose pioneering research has helped to save her own sight.

By doing it the brave grandmother-of-four from Lymington became the oldest person to ever jump with the GoSkydive team, beating the firm’s previous record of 87.

Jo was determined to give something back to the team at Southampton General Hospital’s Eye Unit after being treated there for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Thanks to the research by Professor Andrew Lotery and his team, funded by the Gift of Sight Appeal, her sight has been stabilised by having regular injections into her eye.

So, to help future breakthroughs, Jo decided to take the plunge as the quickest and easiest way to raise funds for the charity.

It is fair to say that the decision to do a skydive shocked her family, many of whom thought she was joking but, with the thumbs up from her doctor, Jo completed her jump on Sunday.

And by doing so she smashed her £500 fundraising target, so far raking in £1,345.

Jo said: “I not long ago had my 90th birthday and I feel that there isn’t much more time for me to do anything of any use. If I want to do something I better do it quickly and get on with it.

“I am raising money for something that I really believe in, something that is local and that is going to benefit so many people.”

You can still sponsor Jo at http://www.justgiving.com/Jo-Anstey.