A ST ASAPH hotel has played host to a pyjama party fundraiser that has smashed last year’s total by more than £1,000

Swimmers from the Denbighshire Puddle Ducks swimming group, which meets at The Oriel Country Hotel and Spa have raised £1,440 with their Ducks, baby, pre-school and Swim Academy annual charity PJ swim.

In 2018 the group's PJ sponsored swim raised £414, with this year's funds going to the Tam O’ Shanter Urban Farm in the Wirral. As well as being plenty of fun, the event also teaches the young swimmers - aged up until 10 years old - vital techniques, especially how it would feel if they ever found themselves in water fully clothed.

Jay Nash, owner of Puddle Ducks Chester, Wirral and North Wales,said: “We really wanted to support a charity in the community and the urban farm is just that. Lots of community groups in the area visit the farm, alongside families with children allowing them to get out into the fresh air, explore and enjoy meeting and feeding the farm animals.

“It’s a wonderful location that is run by local volunteers seven days a week, 364 day of the year.

“This year, our customers voted on Facebook to choose where our charity PJ Week money went to and contributed to the amazing £1,440 through their sponsored PJ swim, buying raffle tickets and we also had people bidding for a signed Tranmere Rovers football shirt.”

The Tranmere Rovers football shirt was really popular, the top bid went to the dad of one of the little swimmers, who is an avid Tranmere fan, as an early Christmas present. He and his family spend a lot of time visiting Tam O’ Shanter Farm, so were also very excited to help raise money for the charity.

Half of the money raised will pay for their brand-new website, which will be interactive, engage the community with their upcoming events, include animal updates and detail all the facilities on the farm, which are available.

The remaining 50 percent will go towards refurbishing the duck pond area which has fallen into a muddy disrepair it houses lots of different types of birds, including geese, which will be a great attraction for visitors.

Mr Nash added: “I had a brilliant afternoon at the farm presenting the cheque to Colin and Josephine Wood, who volunteer to help project manage the farm on behalf of the community. We took along Puddle our mascot who enjoyed meeting with the very friendly chickens and goats, we had lots of fun.”

For more information about Puddle Ducks Chester, Wirral and North Wales, please call 01829 740825 or visit puddleducks.com.