Tory MP Grant Shapps has poured cold water on a charity challenge – but has thrown the gauntlet down to his Labour challenger.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: MP Grant Shapps jumps from the 160ft craneMP Grant Shapps jumps from the 160ft crane (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield’s MP and the Conservative Party chairman declined borough opposition group leader Kieran Thorpe’s Ice Bucket Challenge, after the councillor filmed his own soaking.

However, as Cllr Thorpe’s dare to his political nemesis broke the rules by nominating four people, he instead came up with an alternative fundraising scheme.

Mr Shapps said: “Kieran will be pleased to hear that I have in any case texted a £10 donation to 70110 since he was a true sport.

“And, I’ve got a challenge for him which might settle this once and for all.

“A while back I did [a bungee jump] and if Kieran will pledge to join me the next time this outfit are in town, I know we can raise even more funds together for charity.”

Councillor Thorpe – who took on the web charity craze dressed as Darth Vader – has gracefully denied the extreme challenge, but said “one of my party colleagues would happily take up the challenge”.

He said: “It’s a shame Grant poured cold water over the idea but it was only a bit of fun and at least he donated, which is the whole point anyway.

“Maybe it’s more a Boris Johnson kind of thing.”

The ice bucket campaign has swept across the internet in the last few weeks, with participants dared to pour a bucket of freezing water over their heads.

It was set up to raise cash and awareness for ALS, which is known as Motor Neurone Disease in the UK.