Moel Findeg is part of the Clwydian Range

Villagers who raised �500,000 to buy their local mountain to stop it being used as a quarry have been honoured with a major conservation award.

During their vigorous campaign to save Moel Findeg, near the village of Maeshafn in Denbighshire, the group even secured Royal backing from the Prince of Wales

Now they have been handed the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty accolade at a special ceremony at Loggerheads Country Park.

After their efforts, the nature reserve at Moel Findeg is managed by Denbighshire Countryside Service - many local people now help maintain the site.

David Bucknell, the former treasurer of the Friends of Moel Findeg campaign, said the future of the mountain was now safe, thanks to the "keen community" of Maeshafn.

"It will be a local nature reserve in perpetuity and that is what is so wonderful," he said.

"We had donations from the Isle of Man, the south of England and even France.

"There were probably approaching 1,000 people who donated."

Welsh fight

Former chairman Charles Quant picked up the award on behalf of the 130 villagers who campaigned to buy the mountain.

He said it was a proud day for him.

"The campaign goes back about five years when we found out that the owners of the quarry were planning to quarry on it," he said.

I think it's marvellous that we will receive this award and the council have recognised this group of villagers Charles Quant, villager

"We decided to start by tackling the people of the village and this self-help approach did us a lot of good.

"Welsh people like a fight - if you point them in a good direction, they will take some beating.

"We also had a wonderful cheque from an old couple via a bank manager in Deeside," added Mr Quant.

"They remembered courting on Moel Findeg and they wanted us to have some money - they sent us �10,000."

The company who owned the mountain wanted to sell it for �1m but after lengthy discussions with the villagers it was sold in 1999 for �500,000.

Mr Quant said they then signed it back over to Denbighshire County Council.

"We decided that villagers come and go, so we put it into the care of the council.

"I think it's marvellous that we will receive this award and the council have recognised this group of villagers."