A BLANKET of coastal mist shrouding Pembroke Dock’s Cleddau Bridge lifted like a curtain rising before a much-anticipated show as the first participant in the 2017 Bungee off the Bridge challenge hurled himself towards the water. There were 75 brave jumpers for Saturday's September 2 event, but it was Ian Gravell, of the Gravells car dealership in Narberth, who blazed a trail for the others as the first jumper of the day.

It was his second bungee jump from the Cleddau Bridge.

Mr Gravell, whose business was a main sponsor for a second year, said he was proud to be associated with the event and organisers the Pembroke Dock Town Team.

“This is a very visually exciting event, it really is good fun,’’ he said. “It feels like being on a big swing. There is a gut check initially but once the rope goes taut it is just great fun.’’

And his words of advice to the other participants?

“It is important to remember to go to the toilet beforehand!’’

It was a family day out with several members of his family also taking part to raise funds for the cancer unit at Singleton Hospital.

Pembroke Dock businessman James Parfitt, one of the event organisers, and his daughter, Hannah, both jumped for the second time, with Hannah dressed as a Dalmatian raising money for Spott, the Haverfordwest-based social enterprise that supports people and their pets.

“I didn’t sleep much last night but that was more because of excitement than nerves,’’ confessed Hannah, a Spott volunteer.

There were poignant reasons behind some of the jumps.

Nineteen-year-old Lucy Barnes, of Pembroke Dock, was raising funds for twin brother, Jack’s gofundme campaign, watched by her mum, Helen.

The money raised by both Lucy and Jack’s friend, Jack Adams, of Kilgetty, who also did the jump, will pay for specialist equipment for Jack, who was left severely brain damaged after attempting to take his own life.

Another braving the leap to raise funds was Pembroke Dock councillor Josh Beynon.

Cllr Beynon was raising funds for a ‘cold cot’ at Glangwili hospital to give grieving new parents a little extra time with their little ones.

He said: “It went OK; I was so nervous walking across the bridge, who knew it was so long, then once I was in the air it was fine. The event ran smoothly as well so it was all-in-all a fab success.”

There was a mixture of nerves and excitement among both participants and their supporters as they gathered at the registration point at Hobbs Point.

The event was visually stunning but there was another side to the day. Many charities were invited to set up stall at Hobbs Point and Pembroke Dock as a town benefitted from extra footfall on the day.

The future direction of the event is still under discussion – the Pembroke Dock Town Team had been considering passing it on to a commercial operator – but Mr Parfitt hinted that there could be a change of heart.

“The Pembroke Dock Town Team is like a big family. Every year we discuss handing the event over to someone else but then the day comes and we have so much fun we are reluctant to give that up.’’

Another member of the town team, Councillor Dilys Burrell, agreed.

“We are 99 per cent certain we will be back in 2018,’’ said Cllr Burrell.