A DISABLED Cradley man has raised about £1,000 for an ex-Serviceman's charity by reaching the highest point in the Brecon Beacons.

Alan Edwards, who used to be in the RAF, climbed Pen-Y-Fan last weekend for the organisaiton Combat Stress.

Mr Edwards, who has mobility problems following serious spine and hip injuries in the late 1960s, made the ascent in his disabled buggy. He was helped by a squad of able-bodied assistants.

He said: "It was great. We started at about 11am and were back down by about 6pm. The weather was beautiful.

"The whole thing was more work for my assistants than me. They had to carry ramps and equipment and sometimes push the buggy."

The previous day, the team had made a lengthy hike along the Taff Trail, from Merthyr to Brecon.

"I really want to thank everyone who helped me, especially my wife, my RAF colleagues and representatives from the buggy's makers," he said .

Mr Edwards had promoted his fundraising feat at the Cradley Festival of Music in August and had also sold home-made birdboxes.

He said: "I've still got to get the sponsorship money in but I'm pretty sure it will be about £1,000."

Mr Edwards is now planning his next funraising feat - an ascent of Ben Nevis.

He said: "We have to see if it's feasible first. If it is, it'll need a lot of work. It's three times the height and three times the distance and it may just prove not to be possible, in which case I'll have to think of something else.

"Combat Stress is a bit of a Cinderella among charities but it does a lot of good work."