Six-year-old Elly Neville had a fantastic time recently when she was asked to go along to The Hope Inn in Pembroke to count a bottle of money for Ward 10 at Withybush Hospital. Well, this was no ordinary bottle - it was huge!

The collection bottle was started in 2007 by Mr. Howard John and his wife Jenny who used to run the pub.

Mr. John explained: “It was started because everyone is touched by cancer and Ward 10 does so much to help.”

The Hope Inn is now run by their son Dai Samuel who has a fantastic pub with a great atmosphere and is well worth a visit. Anyway, this huge bottle, thankfully made of plastic, had to be cut open by Dai with a small electric circular saw!

Luckily, on hand were three lovely ladies from Barclays Bank in Pembroke, Helen, Marie and Rachel to help count the money - complete with money bags and weighing machines!

At one point, there were 10 people counting and there was money everywhere!

The counting took nearly two hours, with Dai keeping everyone topped up with drinks and fish and chips.

When it was all added up, the Barclays Bank ladies announced the amazing total of £2,243.13! Everyone was astonished.

“We would like on behalf of Elly’s Ward 10 Appeal to thank Dai, Howard, Jenny and all the very kind and generous customers of The Hope Inn over the last nine years,” said Elly’s dad Lyn. “We thank them for choosing Elly’s appeal to receive this amazing donation. On behalf of all the nurses, staff and patients on Ward 10, thank you so much as this donation will make a huge difference to patient experience and environment.”

Dai is now looking for a new giant bottle to start all over again!