A young carer took the plunge and jumped into the sky to raise money for the charity that helped her growing up.

Laura Heard, of St Wilfrids Road, East Barnet, was one of 15 people chosen to jump for the Jack Petchey Foundation on July 29 to mark its 15th anniversary.

The 23-year-old raised £200 for Barnet Carers Center, in Ballards Lane, North Finchley. She has worked at the charity for two years supporting children who care for family members at home.

Laura's mother is deaf and her sister has ADHD, and when her grandmother was diagnosed with dementia when she was 13 she moved in to help ease the burden.

Laura said: “It’s amazing – it allows you to be a child again. When you are a young carer you basically have to be an adult. The sole purpose is to give them respite from their care role at home.”

The centre runs youth projects and activities for more than 600 children, aged five to 17, and is supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation.

The former pupil at Ashmole Academy, in Cecil Road, Southgate, took part in the jump at the North London Skydiving Centre in Cambrige.

She raised the £200 by baking cakes and asking for colleagues for sponsorship.

She added: “I chose to raise money for Barnet Carers Centre because I have also been a young carer, and this local centre supported me as well as thousands of others, so now I want to give something back.”