DAREDEVILS from across Scotland flocked to the Titan Crane at the weekend to take advantage of a rare opportunity to abseil down the 150-foot landmark.

The day was organised by the Glasgow detachment of the Royal Marines Reserve Scotland with the aim of raising cash for the Royal Marines Charity.

Two Royal Marines called in at the Clydebank crane on Saturday afternoon after completing their 1664 Global Challenge, a 1,664-mile run around the UK in the course of 100 days, replicating a similar challenge undertaken three years ago to mark the Marines’ 350th anniversary.

Royal Marine cadets from throughout the west of Scotland were joined by members of the public raising money for their own good causes.

Falling into the latter category was Carrie-Ann Cairney, 24, from Whitecrook, who raised cash for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

After her descent Carrie-Ann told the Post: “I’ve managed to raise £320 so far, but I’m hoping there’ll be more to come.

“I’d never done an abseil before I wasn’t really nervous until the person before me got to the edge – then I just wanted to come straight back down!

“On the way all I was thinking was ‘just get me down’ – I’ve never shaken so much in my life.”

Major Alex Pickett, from the Royal Marines Reserve’s Scottish HQ, added: “We had 60 paying members of the public sign up along with 20 cadets. We’ve had some tremendous responses and some great individual efforts – one or two have raised £1,500 for the Royal Marines Charity themselves.”

The 1664 Global Challenge visited Glasgow north west on July 13, when Marines from 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group, based at Faslane, completed seven days supporting the event by running from Loch Lomond to the veterans’ home at Erskine and then to Scotstoun Stadium.

Saturday’s event was followed by another charity abseil from the crane the following day, held to raise funds for the provision of free personal safety classes for the blind.

Clydebank-born Alan Bell is the founder of the Scottish Centre for Personal Safety, a charity which provides personal safety training to vulnerable groups of people, especially the blind and visually impaired.

Nine supporters of the charity – Alan’s brother and Clydebank resident David Bell, with his 14-year-old daughter Aimee, amputee and ScotCPS instructor Colin Hamilton and his partner Karen Lavery, Helen McMillan and three registered blind charity supporters – Norma Baillie, Jamie Cuthbertson and Michael McAllister – took part..

The event raised more than £1,000 for the charity and allows them to continue supplying free personal safety classes for the blind and visually impaired.