There were emotional scenes on Aberystwyth seafront on Sunday as those taking part in a charity bike ride organised by the late Cllr Paul James cycled home, completing a 140-mile route between Bronglais and Morriston hospitals and back.

Cllr James, 61, died while out training for the event on Thursday, 11 April, following a crash involving two cars on the A487.

He had chosen 10 friends to accompany him on Paul’s Heart Ride, and had hoped to raise £10,000 for Bronglais and Morriston Hospitals, where he had received treatment for a heart condition.

With the permission of Paul’s family, the ride went ahead at the weekend, with Paul’s friends – Gary Pemberthy, Mike Blair, Derek Glennie, Arwel James, Rob Patterson Jones, Justin Manley, Shaun Russell Jones, Wyn Vinny Morris, Paul Noble and Gary Patterson - setting out from Bronglais Hospital on Saturday morning.

Gary Pemberthy, who helped organise the event, said it was a “moving experience”.

“The support at Bronglais, en route and at Morriston was amazing," he said.

“It was a great two days, with a great bunch of lads, all of whom Paul had picked to ride with him.

“He was always in our thoughts, and at the hotel we stayed at overnight there were lots of stories about him.

“On the way back we stopped in Tregaron to raise a glass to Paul because we knew that, once we got to Aberystwyth, it would be hard to keep the 14 of us - 10 cyclists and four supporters – together.”

The ride was originally scheduled to end at Bronglais Hospital but the organisers of the annual Aberystwyth Cycle Festival invited the riders to cross their finish line on the promenade.

“That was amazing, to see everyone there, especially Paul’s family. It was a very moving experience,” Gary said.

There’s still time to donate to Paul’s JustGiving page and collection buckets can be found around the town.

See this week’s Aberystwyth paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now