MORE than £3000 was raised through a sombre walk in memory of 11 servicemen.

A group of 13 trekkers - named 'The 11 Poppies' from Rhyl and surrounding areas - carried out the challenge up Snowdon and remembered servicemen, five from Rhyl, which have been killed in action in conflicts since World War Two in Northern Ireland, The Falkland Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The team was made up of Paul Fairhurst, Judy Walsh, Alun Lloyd, Andy Harding, Chris Thomas, Stuart Cotton, Monty Smith, Mike Bains, Jackie Hutchison, Linda Jones, Mark Crossley, Mark Jackson and Angie Tye.

Paul organised the walk which started at 7am. Fundraisers, who were dressed in red poppy jackets which had been sorted by Mike Walsh, opted for the Pyg Track.

Stuart, of Cotton Computers in Rhyl, who took part in the hike, said: “A total of 13 of us headed out in the end. It was minus six degrees and 50mph winds and we were greeted by torrential rain.

“Some of us knew each other and some of us didn’t. Paul organised everything and got everyone together.

“I have done quite a bit of mountain climbing. We all headed up in our red jackets and had a couple of stops.

“It was horrendous weather when we arrived at the top. We spent five or 10 minutes on the summit but it felt like 30. We had to eventually go as we were that cold.”

A small service was held on the summit as well as the Reveille and the Last Post.

The determined group also took a 11-foot banner up with them.

Stuart added: “We unravelled the banner and did the Last Post and reading in silence. We had quite a crowd watching. It was quite eerie the two-minute silence.

“We got to the top at 10.45am and got down about 3pm. We took the Miners’ Track on the way down. It was a super effort by everyone.”

Money raised has been split between Combat Stress and St Kentigern Hospice.

Chris Ruane, MP for Vale of Clwyd, said: “Well done to the valiant efforts of Paul Fairhurst and his team for their fundraising efforts to raise funds to commemorate the five soldiers from Rhyl who have died in conflicts since the Second World War.

“We have rightly recognised the fallen of the First World War but we should also commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice in more recent conflicts.”

The group were given permission from Snowdonia National Park to leave the banner secured up at the summit for a week and lay wreaths.