A GROUP of women followed in their partners’ footsteps and jumped out of a plane.

Wives and girlfriends of 14 soldiers in Colchester-based 2nd and 3rd Battalions, Parachute Regiment, took part in a skydive.

The intrepid women jumped at Langar airfield in Nottinghamshire to raise money for the Afghanistan Trust, which supports paratroopers and their families injured or killed during the regiment’s two tours of the troubled Helmand province.

Kate Rutsch, whose husband Nick is a major in 2 Para, said the jump was amazing.

She said: “As a soldier’s wife you’re quite often waiting at home and worrying about what they’re doing. The tour last summer was a particularly difficult time.

“But they also get to do some quite some quite exciting things, like parachute jumps. It was great to have a try at what our blokes do and see what it’s like for ourselves while raising as much money as possible for a charity that is doing fantastic work.”

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/afghanistan trust