Pool table on a mountain

A pool table has been taken to the top of the Brecon Beacons' highest peak as part of a bizarre fund-raising event.

It was carried to Pen-y-Fan's summit, some 2,907ft (886m) high, by 20 men to help raise funds for the Merthyr Tydfil branch of the Cancer Aid charity.

Organiser Dean Thomas said he was inspired to stage the event by a story of a piano found on Ben Nevis in May.

The table has remained on the mountain top since walkers donated money to play a frame of pool on Saturday.

The National Trust, which owns the mountain, said it had given Cancer Aid permission to run the event.

Meanwhile, Mr Thomas said he and his 20 friends planned to carry the 285kg table back down on Saturday.
"The idea came from the story about the piano found on Ben Nevis," said Mr Thomas, from Merthyr.

"I run the pool league in Merthyr and I got together with a few friends and decided to play on Pen-y-fan. We hope to raise between £2,000 and £3,000 for Cancer Aid."

A tent was also erected on the summit so players could enjoy some refreshments out of the rain and wind.

Mr Thomas added: "There were quite a few walkers about and we had people from New York, New Jersey and Christchurch (New Zealand) donating money. We had a bucket and raised about £340 on the day itself."