Ex-soldier's extreme ironing task

Have iron, will travel: Ian Ambrose hopes to raise �2,500 for The Gap

A former soldier has launched his own year-long "extreme ironing" challenge in the Brecon Beacons.

Ian Ambrose plans to photograph himself ironing in unusual locations, including on canoe, in a gorge and on top of England's highest peak, Scafell Pike.

The 32-year-old, who runs an ironing business, is raising funds for The Gap, which puts on activities for young people in Swansea.

The bizarre sport of extreme ironing was started in Leicester in 1997.

The first world championships were held in Germany five years later and devotees have since taken their ironing boards to a host of weird and wonderful places from Everest to the bottom of the sea.

Mr Ambrose, who served for 12 years with the Royal Regiment of Wales and The Parachute Regiment first became aware of it on the internet before last year while walking in the Brecon Beacons he came across some students out ironing.

"I'm ironing every day with the business, so I just thought it would be a good way to support the charity as it is local and raise the profile a bit," he said.

Mr Ambrose started the year-long challenge on top of Pen-y-Fan

Starting with his trek up Pen-y-Fan, south Wales' highest mountain, on Saturday he has set himself the target of raising �2,500 in a year.

He has already checked the Pen-y-Fan terrain. "We went up and did a 'recce' last week and there was a bit of snow on the top so hopefully that will still be there and I can get a picture in the snow," he added.

He has set up a page on his company website and will update it with photographs after each expedition.

The Gap, which is based at Cornerstone Church in Penlan, helps teenagers from across Swansea develop social skills and gain qualifications such as Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

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