NEARLY £1,000 has been raised to help four Blaenau Ffestiniog football fans who almost had their Euro 2016 dreams dashed when they crashed their campervan into a low bridge.

Michael Pugh, Gethin Jones, Calfyn McQuilling and Bryn Humphreys began their journey to France on Thursday, 10 June, but as they travelled through Rouen they hit a low bridge, which sheared off half the roof of the van.

The incident left them without the means to reach Bordeaux for the first match of the group stages and nowhere to stay when they got there.

Michael’s sister, Ellen Pugh, and her family back in Blaenau Ffestiniog immediately tried to help the four die-hard Welsh fans and set up an online campaign to help raise money so that they could continue with their journey.

Michael said he and his friends were overwhelmed by the support.

Speaking to the Cambrian News, he said: “We’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone for their support and gofund donations. We wouldn’t be able to have this experience of following our country in the European tournament without it after our unfortunate accident with the camper.

“It shows what kind of community we have here in Blaenau Ffestiniog. We didn’t expect anything from anyone, but this has been overwhelming. We can’t say enough how grateful we are.”

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News