Sixteen boats from Ireland sailed to Aberystwyth

Sixteen privately-owned vessels were escorted into the harbour on Thursday by the town's lifeboat, following about 12 hours at sea.

The crews will spend the weekend in the town before returning across the Irish Sea to the Emerald Isle on Sunday.

They are hoping to raise �25,000 which will be split between RNLI stations in Ireland.

The boats set off from Kinsale, near Cork, at 0600 BST on Thursday morning.

Aberystwyth lifeboat station's crew entertained the visitors at the boat club on Thursday night and will hold a barbecue on Friday.

Depending on the weather, the journey will take about 12 to 16 hours Ron Barclay, the RNLI

Ron Barclay of the RNLI in Aberystwyth said on Thursday: "The shortest route between Ireland and Wales measures about 180 nautical miles.

"Depending on the weather, the journey will take about 12 to 16 hours each way and they'll be travelling at between 12 and 15 knots."

The crews sailed to Fishguard first of all and were met by the town's RNLI lifeboat. It escorted them as far as Cardigan and they were later met by the Aberystwyth lifeboat, which followed the boats into the harbour.

It is the second fund-raising trip the Irish flotilla has made.