A former Royal Marine is to fulfil a lifelong dream with a parachute jump for charity at the age of 72.

Malcolm Hill, of Herbert Road, Burnham-on-Sea, served in the Royal Marines during his National Service from 1955-57.

At that time he was paid 28 shillings (£1.40) a week and if he had signed up to the Parachute Regiment he would have earned an extra nine pence per day (3.5p) giving him an added five shillings a week.

However, he was turned down for parachute training because he was on National Service and has longed to do a jump ever since.

More than 50 years later he is to fulfil his ambition with a tandem skydive for charity after being given the go-ahead by his doctor.

It will take place with the Parachute Regiment's freefall team the Red Devils at Neatheravon in Wiltshire on September 22.

Malcolm, a father-of-two, said: "I was at a Royal Marine station in Lympstone, Devon, in 1955 and there were 28 of us in the squad.

"We all wanted to join the Parachute Regiment because it paid nine pence a day jumping money and we were paid 28 shillings a week but we were all refused because we were National Service.

"I was demobbed from the military in 1957 and joined the police force and later worked for Guildford CID.

"The jump is something I have always wanted to do. I'm a life member of the Royal Marines Association, which does brilliant work as does Hope for Heroes, which supports service men and women.

"I have therefore decided to do a jump and get sponsors for them both.

"I had to go to the doctors because I am over 40 and she asked if I was nervous. I said not about the jump but I was terrified about seeing her in case she said I could not jump but she said I was fit and she hopes I enjoy it.

"I went out of the surgery walking on air and I'm now looking forward to doing it, it has been an ambition of mine for absolutely years."

Malcolm will jump from a plane with an instructor at 10,000ft.

He added: "My daughters Sally, 48, and Karen, 50, are both sponsoring me £50 each and they think it is absolutely fantastic and are both totally in favour of me doing the jump.

"My wife Joyce, who I met when I was a marine and she was in the Wrens, is also fully supportive.

"We married after I was demobbed and when I jump on the 22nd, we would have been married for 52 years on the 21st so it will be a double celebration.

"The total cost of the jump and to jump with the Red Devils will cost £590 so I hope to raise more than £1,000 to make it worthwhile."

To send a donation post to 16 Herbert Road, Burnham-on-Sea, TA8 2HE.

Help For Heroes helps soldiers and other servicemen and women both directly and through its support of other service charities.

The Royal Marines Association maintains and promotes esprit de corps and comradeship among all Royal Marines.