Skipton film ace Sid Perou is helping a woman pilot record her attempt to fly the smallest plane around the globe.

He fitted two camcorders to Polly Vacher's Piper Dakota for her world record-breaking bid which will also raise money for charity.

Mr Perou, 62, says he was inspired by Mrs Vacher's efforts and her determination to raise money.

"She's been amazing," he said. "She's a middle aged mother who suddenly took to flying and decided to take on this trip.

"The way she has managed to get big firms and loads of people to help her out has been an inspiration and we just wanted to see that we could do."

He's no stranger to planes himself, or fundraising.

He first took on charity work in 1996, after a friend who had just returned from a hang gliding holiday in Jordan discovered she had lung cancer.

She died six months later and shortly after he flew to Jordan in a Microlite aircraft. On the return flight he was invited as a personal guest on King Hussein's plane.

Tragically, his own wife Alison died in 1995, a victim of breast cancer.

His work with Mrs Vacher, along with Leeds film firm Four Winds Productions, began when plans for the world record bid were drawn up a year ago. It was a challenge fitting the cameras in such a confined space.

"We couldn't get support from any TV companies because there was no room on the plane for any camera operators,'' he said.

"So we had to get two small camcorders fitted and Polly is doing the filming herself.

"They're similar to ones you can buy in shops but we have modified them so Polly can see what is going on while she is flying.

"We are hoping to use the footage for a documentary but it depends on what we get. It might be used for a promotional video on Polly's work."

Mrs Vacher set off from Birmingham Airport on January 12 and is in India where family say she is "being treated like royalty''.

She is due to return to Birmingham on May 14.

Her flight in the Piper Dakota is raising money for the Royal International Air Tattoo Flying Scholarships for the Disabled.

So far she has taken in places ranging from Nice to Crete and Bombay. For more information on her trip, you can log onto www.worldwings.org.