Peter Sutton, 55, is part of the crew of the Persephone of Percuil which will be sailing into the town on July 20 after returning from the PowerBar Three Peaks Yacht Race.

Local businessman Maurice Smyth has sponsored the entry of the team of sailors, including Mr Sutton, in this gruelling yacht race that also includes running up Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis mountains.

The team of five sailors from the Seahorse Sailing Club on the Welsh Harp in north London will be setting off on Saturday, June 28 for a long distance challenge which will see them racing their boat the length of the Irish Sea and stopping along the way to run up the three highest mountains in the UK.

They are hoping to raise urgently needed funds for a replacement safety boat for use on their local reservoir and for clubhouse development.

The sailors aboard will get little rest as the race is continuous, and the two runners in the team must complete 72 miles and 14,000 feet of climbing to reach the summits of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis.