They came, they saw... and they conquered one of the most imposing
pieces of architecture around Kent.

British divers Gary Hunt and Blake Aldridge took an amazing leap
of faith off the Maunsell Forts in the Thames Estuary at the
weekend.

They were preparing for the penultimate stop of the 2012 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

The forts are fortified towers built in the Thames Estuary
during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom.

They were named after their designer, Guy Maunsell
and decommissioned in the late 1950s.

The Maunsell forts were later used for other activities -
including as a base for pirate radio and as the self-styled
independent Principality of Sealand.

Both divers, pictured above in a time lapse image, were
preparing for the first UK leg of the world series, in
Pembrokeshire, Wales this weekend.