THE OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION SOUTH EAST UK

Our parish priest has taken part in a daredevil stunt in Hove by walking across a high wire with no safety equipment 80ft in the air!

Fr Jerome and Chico on the hirewire

Father Jerome Lloyd was meant to be carried along the rope on the back of a circus performer to re-enact a stunt by French wire walker Charles Blondin, who walked along a tight rope across the Niagara Falls with his manager on his back in 1859, but the trick had to be adapted after the tightrope walker was unable to lift him.

Father Lloyd, who weighs 12.5st, said Chico Marinhos, a high wirewalker with the touring Zippos Circus, was unable to stand up once hewas on his shoulders as he had nothing to lever himself up with from his position on top of the Big Top.

Father Lloyd, who was raising money for charity, said there was nothing else they could do other than for him to walk across the rope himself, holding on to the high wire walker's shoulders as he crossed it in front of him.

He said of the stunt: "It did actually feel fine. I wasn't really at all nervous as I'm not actually scared of heights.

"The only thing I was concerned about was that I would make Chico nervous."

Father Lloyd, 43, a missionary priest from the National CatholicApostolic Church, carried out the stunt wearing his traditional soutane and saturno.

Fr Jerome safely on the rooftop of the Tent!

He was raising money for the Sussex Beacon charity, which provides specialist care and support for people living with HIV.