WHEN it comes to extreme fundraising, two staff members at Bexleyheath’s shopping centre take some beating.

Christine Barton, marketing manager at the Broadway Mall and its operations manager Sue Wilders, 52, went diving with sharks, to raise cash for the Mall’s chosen charity, Greenwich and Bexley Cottage Hospice.

Together with two staff members from Maidstone and Luton Malls, they travelled to the Blue Planet Aquarium near Chester, which houses the largest collection of sharks in Europe.

Mrs Barton, 45, who has never dived before, explained: “The two others sent an email round asking if anyone was interested and I knew Sue dived, so I was just doing some research for her and somehow ended up going as well.”

Ironically she was more afraid of the breathing apparatus than the sharks.

She said: “When I got into the water, it was just so surreal I forgot about the fear.”

Mrs Barton says she is glad she had the experience, but won’t be in a hurry to repeat it, although she says her family are very proud of her effort.

So far, the pair have raised £1,140 and are still collecting.