Keeping paths ship-shape for walkers in the south of the county is a welcome challenge for new Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority warden Mitchell Hill.

With years of countryside conservation experience following a stint in the Army, including time in Africa and two years as a gamekeeper in the Cotswolds, Mitch has seen some unusual sights in his time.

Mitch said: "Probably my most unusual incidents at work have involved big cats - I've spotted one in England and one here in Pembrokeshire. Not quite as many as I spotted in Africa, but definitely big cats.

"We have a busy winter schedule of works in South Pembrokeshire coming up this winter and mainly looking at repairing the Coast Path, inland paths and mending fences, gates, bridges, walls and steps.

"It's always enjoyable meeting people every day who use the paths, such as an unassuming couple I met recently who were walking the entire coast of Britain, including my stretch of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path."

The authority rotates maintenance of its parish paths over a three-year period in the south sector of the National Park, with Amroth and Saundersfoot paths benefiting from a programme of routine maintenance.

Authority ranger (south) Tim Jones said: "The path network in the south sector includes 61 miles of Coast Path, and covers 228 separate inland path links, all of which are maintained by the busy National Park wardens.

"Mitch brings a valuable range of skills and experience to his role and we will be utilising them to the full with a range of projects over the coming months."