A cancer charity has benefited from the efforts of a team who've been 'tied up' with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's Oriel y Parc landscape gallery this year.

The partners involved in the construction of the £3million gallery, education and visitor centre in St. Davids were issued with a National Park tie to be worn at meetings. A £10 charity forfeit was paid each time anyone forgot to wear it.

The authority's projects officer, Philip Roach, who oversaw the building project, said: "With any new project a range of people are brought together for the first time and forming an 'instant team' can be tricky.

"The ties idea meant everyone signed up to a common objective and had some fun at the start of every meeting. Fortunately, people paid up when they forgot their ties and so we were able to hand over £510."

Cathy McLean, director of RICS Wales, is involved in charity work for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

She said: "On behalf of Marie Curie Cancer Care, I am delighted to accept the cheque and pass on considerable thanks to the participants in the tie challenge. Not only have they provided a fantastic building at St. Davids, they will help cancer sufferers in Wales with the 'proceeds' of their fines.

"Our next challenge for Marie Curie will be our toughest and will see my husband Tony and I taking part on our tandem in the Canadian Rockies in Summer 2009. Our charity website has just been set up at http://www.justgiving.com/tandemrockies">www.justgiving.com/tandemrockies and we hope to raise £5,000."

• The companies who teamed up with the National Park Authority in the tie challenge were: Smith Roberts Associates; Ramboll Whitbybird; Mildred Howells; Integrated Design Partnership; Carreg Construction; TPS Consult; Francis Catering Equipment and NSE Electrics.