Plucky friends of a seriously-injured Norfolk farmer are preparing for an icy North Sea plunge to raise money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance which helped save his life.

Tim Papworth is recovering at home in Felmingham, near North Walsham, after falling 16ft on to a concrete floor from a gantry in a potato store last month.

Mr Papworth, 41, was at Addenbrooke's Hospital, near Cambridge, within an hour of the accident at Tunstead thanks to the air ambulance.

Caroline Tims has organised a sponsored dip in the sea off Walcott on December 11 and those taking part hope to raise at least �1,000 for the charity with the feat. She said a number of Colby School parents and former Colby pupils, had volunteered to take the plunge.

'We were all very concerned about Tim when he had his accident... it was the air ambulance which had saved his life and without them he wouldn't be around now to tell the tale,' she said.

In a statement the Papworth family said that Mr Papworth was fragile but was continuing on the road to recovery.

Anyone who wants to support the dippers can make a donation via Photoworx, at 25 Market Place, North Walsham.