A BANK in Ellesmere and its charity partners have raised £17,000 after climbing Snowdon and taking part in other fundraising events leading up to the hike.

Staff from TSB in The Square, Ellesmere, joined forces with their friends and family, and the staff of Oswestry and Wellington branches to take part in the 3,560ft hike raising money for 23 local charities.

Lynsay Thomson, area director for Staffordshire, North Wales and Shropshire has thanked everyone for their support and donations.

She said: “I’m so proud of the team, it’s been very emotional.

“Everyone has worked really hard over the past few months, putting in a lot of training and effort to make the event such a success.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has supported and helped us.

“The weather was wet and windy, but every step was completely worth it knowing the difference that our funds will make.

“These local charities are a vital part of our communities and we’re honoured to have them as charity partners.”

Snowdon is the highest point in the British Isles outside of the Scottish Highlands and it took the TSB partners 650 hours in total to complete the mammoth climb – with adverse weather conditions making it even more difficult.

Among the charities that benefited from donations from the climb, was the Severn Hospice.

It received a cheque for £2,900 – handed over by Simon Poloszek, bank manager and community ambassador for the Ellesmere Branch to Mike Perry, community fundraising advisor at the hospice.

He said: “We are very grateful to TSB for this donation.

“Severn Hospice provides specialist care and support free of charge to families across Shropshire and Mid Wales who are living with an incurable illness.

“The care we provide is free of charge, but not without cost and every year we need to raise around £7 million.

“We are only able to do this thanks to the kindness and generosity of our supporters.”