It is that time again when death-defying downhill daredevils strap themselves to blocks of ice and hurtle down St Mark’s Hill in Surbiton – and raise money for charity in the process.

Organisers from the Community Brain hope the fifth annual Surbiton Ski Sunday will draw crowds from across the capital, bolstering the town’s planned Winter Olympics bid.

That bid moved closer last year with the addition of the Seething Luge challenge to the event.

The world record for surburban skiing – logged over the official course length of one Springle – stands at 10.66 seconds.

Record holder Jack Dimes will be back to defend his crown after a disappointing 2012.

He said: “Unfortunately an injury sustained during intensive training meant I couldn’t take part last year but I’m back, fresh, and ready to put Surbiton back on the map.”

Participants can help raise cash for the Shooting Star Chase Children’s Hospice, and Creative Youth, the group behind the International Youth Arts Festival.

Previous years have seen the likes of Edward Davey MP and the Surrey Comet news editor David Lindsell take on the notorious challenge.

Ski Sunday will take place on October 20, on St Mark’s Hill, Surbiton, from 11am to 1pm.