An “elite group of philanthropists” from Borth raised over £600 for the local fire service by spreading the Christmas cheer and singing carols at houses around the village.

The Horsemen of Borth, who describe themselves as an “elite group of philanthropists who are forward thinking and only seek justice and preservation in our society”, spent Christmas Eve carolling to raise vital funds for the voluntary fire crew.

The group managed to raise £631.64 for the fire service in Borth.

Ben Leigh Byrne, one of the Horsemen out carolling, said: “It started before lockdown. We did it once at Christmas 2019 and we were the first ones to do it in fifteen years.

“This is the first one we could go again because of lockdown. So we thought, this year, we would do it for the Borth Fire Service. Borth has got one of the only voluntary fire crews, so what a good way to fund it.

“We started up by the monument and did all the estates up there, before making it down as far as the Premier shop and heading back to the Railway Inn.

“It was great, it was cold so we took a load of bloody mary and whisky in flasks - it lubricates the mind and the voice!

“People were loving it, they were chucking money at us. We only had one person turn us away, so not too bad.

“We’re very proud, we didn’t expect to get that much. Last time we got about £250. Everybody must have been saving their pennies up over lockdown.

“We would like to make it an annual thing. The fire service do Talybont, Bow Street, Tre’r Ddol, Llancynfelyn and Clarach so we would like to do them as well in the lead up to Christmas Eve.

“The fire service don’t get any funding off anyone really, it’s all voluntary.

“It’s a vital service, we had a big fire here last year, in September, and they were first on the scene.”

The Horsemen also work on the Santa sleigh that is organised by Light Em Up and pulled around villages yearly prior to Christmas.

They are also hoping to do other fundraising activities, such as a sponsored walk in the summer, to raise vital money for the community.