A disabled actress is to walk seven miles on stilts to raise money for charity.

Elisabeth Jennings, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, is hoping to raise awareness of disability as well as vital funds for the Actors Benevolent Fund, the Lions Club and Skylights Circus Arts, a community circus group for disabled and able-bodied people.

She will be accompanied by friend and colleague Saxon Rosie Bright, 41, from Cumbria, and teddy, Roxy Joe Bear, who will be auctioned off after the event.

Miss Jennings said: "We are doing the walk on stilts because it will be like Everest for us.

"We want to take the 'dis' out of disability and highlight the ability, and show able-bodied people that there are some things we can do as well as them."

The 35-year-old was hurt in an accident while on stage at the West Yorkshire Playhouse nine years ago. She lost 95 per cent of the movement in her ankle and damaged a disc in her neck after a piece of equipment almost hit her.

She said: "I was working on a community production when the accident happened.

"I had my leg in a pot and then in a brace from the ankle right up to the hip and I had to take quite a lot of time out of work for physiotherapy."

Miss Jennings has regained most of the movement in her ankle and said it was a lot to do with willpower and wanting to keep on going.

Miss Bright is also disabled and has raised more than £56,000 for charities in the last year alone.

The pair hope to undertake the walk in Brussels, to the European Parliament Building, but are awaiting permission from Belgian police.

Miss Jennings said alternative arrangements had been made for the walk to take place in London or Paris if permission was refused.

Miss Jennings works for a community theatre company which was set up in January by Miss Bright and will be officially launched in April.

Miss Jennings said: "We are hoping to run workshops across the district to take people from the community to the theatre and take people from theatre into the community."

To sponsor Miss Jennings call 07906 169 304.