TWO intrepid pensioners with a combined age of 161 abseiled down Llandudno's Great Orme for charity.

Keith Jones, 82, of Llandudno, and Lawrence Clayton, 79, of Llanrhaeadr, took on the descent of a 65-foot rockface above the waves of the Irish Sea for veterans mentoring project Change Step.

Keith and Lawrence were among a dozen of plucky adventurers.

More than £1,600 was raised for the project which offers dedicated support for ex-service personnel aged 65 plus and their families across Conwy and Denbighshire.

Keith, a former Marine commando, found he hadn’t forgotten his training when he stepped over the edge.

“It was just smashing, great – it just came back to me naturally again,” he said.

“The only thing that was different was the equipment.

“Back when I was in the Marines, it was just a piece of rope you had - so it was a lot safer with the all the modern equipment they have these days.”

Brave participants harnessed up under the guidance of event partners at Great Orme vertical.

Change Step worked with qualified instructors at Great Orme Vertical and staff at the Rest and Be Thankful cafe to deliver the fundraising event.

Lawrence completed two years of national service with the 34 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery - including spells in Malaya and Hong Kong.

He said: "I’ve always wanted to do something like this – and I’ll have a go at anything."

Geraint Jones, project director, said he was delighted by the gusto with which everyone took on the challenge.

He said: "There was a really great atmosphere on the day, and I couldn’t have been more impressed with the camaraderie and great spirit of all our participants.

“We are yet to calculate a final total, but have already reached an impressive £1,600 – and counting. All the money raised will go to support the vital and effective peer mentoring service delivered by Change Step throughout Wales.”

Both Keith and Lawrence have benefitted from Change Step’s Aged Veterans project.

Widower Keith has been able to attend a Royal Marines reunion in Lympstone. He said hearing the band play on his former parade ground made him feel like he was a 17-year-old new recruit once more.

Keith added: "I used to love abseiling and all the physical activities when I was in the Marines, so when I was told about this abseil I said 'I’ll do it.’

"I’ve been on pins over whether the doctor would sign a note for me but I’ve been passed fit.

"Once a Marine, always a Marine - we never give in."