More than 70 people stepped out into thin air above Newport to help a Rogerstone toddler - and others like him fight a rare disease.

FACES craned skywards and cheered as abseilers slid 170 feet from the top of Newport's Transporter Bridge.

Among the crowd watching on Sunday was 14-month-old Jack Witchard, whose rare condition Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis is one of the leukemia-related illnesses tackled by charity The Anthony Nolan Trust, who organised the abseil.

Dad Paul Witchard, 35, an electrical engineer of Acorn Close, said: "It's the first time I've abseiled. Myself and two colleagues have raised about £1,000 this time.

"It was a bit nervewracking when I got up there and looked down. That's when I realised how high it really is.

"But Jack was my inspiration. The least I could do was step off a bridge after what he has been through. He's a brave little boy.

"He's been going on trips to our caravan in Somerset and has just started to walk.

"Jack's doing really well and is now on maintenance treatment. He's set to have another four or five lots of chemotherapy.

"If he's clear after that doctors will end his treatment altogether and hopefully that will be it."

Another abseiler, great grandmother Beryl Nicholas, a hairdresser from Newport, celebrated her 70th birthday by making the drop.

The Witchard family presented her with wine and a birthday card.

She said: "I'm like a bottle of pop. It was fantastic and better than I had expected. It was wonderful to meet Jack.

"It's the best way to spend my birthday and I will have to think of something to do next year."

Nia Chadwick, Wales area manager for the Anthony Nolan Trust, originally intended to run one day's abseil.

But as support for Jack poured in she set up an extra two events, so that 210 people have now stepped off the top of the historic bridge.

She said: "We hope to have raised over £26,000, which is fantastic. I would like to thank all the people of Newport.

"This is definitely the best event we have held in Wales this year because of the unique venue.

"Funds go towards the largest independent bone marrow register in the UK."

Pictured: Jack Witchard with his mum Paula and dad Paul at the Transporter Bridge