Around 170 walkers braved terrible weather in Tenby on Saturday to take part in Wales' very first Bloodwise Winter Walk.

The event raised just under £5,000 to take recent local fundraising for the blood cancer charity to around £20,000.

The inspiration behind the Tenby area's support for the charity is Tenby funeral director and sportsman Simon Rossiter, who is receiving treatment for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Simon's daughter Shelby Rossiter and his fellow Ironman, Chris Brace, organised the Winter Walk with regional Bloodwise staff Rachael and Claire. The five-mile walk followed Derek Brockway's Weatherman Walking circular route from Tenby which took in the town, the South Beach, Kiln Park, Heywood Lane, Upper Hill Park, the North Beach car park and The Croft.

The start and finish was at Tenby Rugby Club, where Dom John and her staff supplied a buffet for the wet walkers and Richard Graham of Big Brum's donated two Six Nations rugby tickets for the Wales v Ireland game, which enabled £300 to be raised in the raffle.

The event was also supported by Western Power Distribution. Said Simon: "There was a brilliant turn-out for the walk, far more than we had expected. It was a really good day, with great community spirit.

"We are so grateful to everyone who came along and got soaked for a very good cause."

Added Shelby: "We now intend to hold a Bloodwise summer walk later in the year - hopefully it will be a little drier on that day! We will continue to raise funds for the Bloodwise charity, and together we will beat blood cancer."