A TEAM of big hearted trailer makers raised £15,000 for a children's hospice charity – and had a ball at the same time.

Staff at Ifor Williams Trailers based at Deeside and Corwen kicked off their fundraising for the Ty Gobaith/Hope House organisation with a series of penalty shoot out competitions for which they built a special trailer.

The charity needs to raise £5 million a year to maintain their vital services for children with life-limiting conditions.

It has two hospices, Hope House near Oswestry and Ty Gobaith in the Conwy Valley.

The charity is currently helping more than 500 families from across North and Mid Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.

The cheque was presented on behalf of Ifor Williams Trailers by team leader Geraint Jones and production operatives Gareth Evans and Emyr Jones who were given a guided tour of the Ty Gobaith hospice.

The first of the shoot outs was held at last year's Urdd Eisteddfod in Bala and a number of other events were held during the year.

According to Geraint Jones, the visit was a ‘very humbling experience’.

He added: “It's fantastic to see the facilities and what they do here. It's a brilliant place, providing a much needed service.

“I’m proud we have raised money for the hospice. I’ve worked at Ifor Williams Trailers for 27 years and we’ve raised an amazing sum.

“When we do things, we do things right.”

Gareth Evans, whose wife works as a carer at the hospice, had been inside once before when it was officially opened in 2004.

“I am very glad that we raised the money because it's such a worthwhile charity and they need every penny to keep the services going.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Emyr Jones who said the visit had ‘hit home’ and given him a better understanding of what they did.

Ty Gobaith senior fundraiser Eluned Yaxley was ‘hugely grateful’ to Ifor Williams Trailers.

She said: “They pulled out all of the stops once again and the support we’ve received not just this last year, but over the years is truly magnificent.

“Without people and companies like Ifor Williams Trailers we just wouldn’t exist.

“Ty Gobaith celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and Hope House in Oswestry is celebrating a big milestone in Oswestry next year, its 21st birthday.

“It will be another year of celebrating and a very special year, but everything we do is only possible because of supporters like Ifor Williams Trailers.”