MORE than 800 sun-screened mountain men and women hiked up to 43km last month to raise £20,000 for the Longtown Mountain Rescue Team.

Intrepid trekkers came from across Europe to show their support, completing three testing routes that saw them climb Hay Bluff on the hottest day of the year.

In its 29th year, the annual fundraiser's longest route went as far as the Grywyne Fawr reservoir, climbing over 2, 650ft, before returning to Llanthony Abbey, near Hay-on-Wye.

Luke Lewis, deputy team leader at Longtown MRT, said: “It’s our most important fundraising event and ensures that the team can continue.

“This year we were incredibly lucky with the weather ¬– a nice change from other years where they’ve battled through snow and high winds.”

Abergavenny-based Longtown Mountain Rescue Team is made up of highly trained volunteers from all walks of life, including doctors, vets, ex-service personnel and local business owners.

Relying entirely on donations, the team answers calls to help missing or injured people in rural and remote areas across South Wales and into the English borders.