A COASTAL village community will be turning out in force to welcome Welsh Guards on a fundraising mission.

Aberporth will be decked out in bunting on Monday, October 3, when the Welsh Guards walk into the village as part of their Walk on Wales campaign.

Villagers will welcome them with tea and Welsh cakes and local schoolchildren will be waving flags.

"Organisers have been quite impressed that such a small community is making such an effort," said Aberporth Community Council Chairman Cllr Anne McCreary.

"They told me that they have written to some communities and haven't even had a response so they are very pleased with Aberporth."

The soldiers are due to come into the village around 10.15am.

Refreshments are being laid on at the beachfront Cafe Sgadan.

A quiz to raise funds for the soldiers' appeal is being held at the village hall on Saturday, September 28. Doors open at 7pm.

* The Walk on Wales concept was dreamt up by two veteran Welsh Guards, Jan Koops and David (Dai) Graham, both of whom served in the Falklands War. As a result, Jan and Dai are keenly aware of the devastating impact that active service can have on soldiers and their families, as they cope with bereavement, life-changing injuries or the long-term effects of psychological trauma. The vision for Walk on Wales is:

- to remember and acknowledge the contribution of the 50 Welsh Guardsmen who have died on active service since the end of World War II, and

- to create a legacy today for the veterans of tomorrow, by raising £1 million for the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal and Combat Stress.

The Walk started on August 25, when the first of 11 Walk on Wales relay teams will set off to walk the Welsh Coast Path, accompanied by Jan Koops and Rod Morgan who will be walking the entire 870 miles. The teams will be carrying with them a specially commissioned silver baton inscribed with the names of those 50 Welsh Guardsmen who died while serving their country in Afghanistan, the Falklands, Iraq and Northern Ireland. In a journey of remembrance and thanks, the baton will travel the entire length of the Welsh Coast Path before arriving back at Cardiff Bay.