Masters' class swimmer and chief executive of Carmarthenshire County Council raised £2,500 for a children's charity swimming to Caldey this summer.

Mark James managed the four kilometre sweep between Tenby and Caldey Island after first swimming round St. Catherine's Island.

It was the lure of his love for swimming and an opportunity to support a children's cancer charity that saw him donning his wetsuit for the challenge.

Mr. James was one of 16 swimmers who made the crossing safely in July, picking one of the few fine Saturdays of the summer when the waves were not too high.

Mr. James said: "The current was quite strong and, although it was not a race, I finished in a creditable second in just over an hour. A few hardy souls wanted to swim back as well, but the coastguard decided against as the tide had turned.

"The most pleasing aspect was that I was able to raise more than £2,500 for LATCH, the Welsh children's' cancer charity, and my thanks go to all those who sponsored me so generously."

Experienced swimmer, Mr. James used to be a county level swimmer and swam in Mid Glamorgan and latterly Brecon whilst in Wales.

He has belonged to Masters' Swimming Clubs in London, Lincolnshire and now Carmarthenshire, where there is a thriving club and several of its members were doing the swim.

LATCH is a voluntary organisation set up to support the special requirements of the children oncology centre which is based at the Children's Hospital for Wales to help affected families and promote research in childhood cancer.