The Lord Mayor of Cardiff has paid tribute to his fantastic team who completed the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge last weekend.

As his last fundraising mission before ending his term of office and handing over the ceremonial chains to the next Lord Mayor later this month, Cllr Bob Derbyshire decided to end his 12 months as Cardiff's first citizen on a real high.

Taking on Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen-y-Fan  to raisefunds for this chosen charities, Buglife Cymru and RSPB Cymru, Cllr Derbyshire was joined on the trek by fellow Cardiff councillors including the Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas, Cllr Sarah Merry, Cllr Peter Wong and Cllr Chris Weaver, as well as representatives from Buglife Cymru and RSPB Cymru.

Aiming to raise £1,000, the Lord Mayor has already surpassed the target with £1,400 collected and funds still coming in.

Cllr Derbyshire said: "The team was excellent. They managed to make it up all three peaks. I'm afraid my legs let me down. I gave it my best shot but after Snowdon and Cadair Idris I was a spent force. Thankfully the team were able to carry on and climb Pen y Fan.

"I want to thank the entire team, I'm not sure I could have made it up Cadair Idris without them and that includes our driver Steve Ling, the assistant manager at Channel View Leisure Centre, who was fantastic arranging the logistics and ferrying us around.

"We've had tremendous support and I also want to thank everyone who donated. We were joined at Cadair Idris by the Leader of Gwynedd Council, Cllr Dyfrig L. Siencyn and chair, Annwen Daniels, so we were very grateful for their encouragement and donation too.

"It was a very hard day. We started walking from Llanberis at 6am - it was just light and very beautiful. We were so lucky with the weather.

"But Cadair Idris was the hardest challenge - half way up we started to get some rain and snow and it was very difficult coming back down. Someone described it as brutal and I would have agreed if I had the energy to speak!

"By the time we got to Pen-Y-Fan it was late and the team went on climbing in the dark, coming back down just after midnight.

"It was very challenging and I don't think I would try it again but it will be a memory I will treasure for ever. I hope no one will ask for their money back as the RSPB and Bug life members did complete all three climbs. Perhaps if I had been 20 years younger with two good hips I would have completed it as well.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported the team."

There's still time to support the Lord Mayor's charity. To donate, visit

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/welsh3peaksforwildlife

.