Hundreds of pounds have been donated to a life-saving service in memory of a much-loved and missed Caersws shop owner.

Esme Francis, a businesswoman who kept a corner shop in Caersws, ran whist drives in the village for many years, firstly in the Church Room.

When the church along with the Church Room were sold she moved the venue for the whist drives to the village hall where they are still held today.

Mrs Francis, as she was always addressed by the local people, passed away on her 100th birthday and friends are still holding the whist drives, as promised to her, every week with a special one every year in her memory.

Delma Thomas presented a cheque for £500 to Dougie Bancroft from the Wales Air Ambulance Charity during a recent whist drive session at Caersws Village Hall.

The money was raised at the Esme Francis Memorial Whist Drive and a kind donation from her son John Francis.

Vera and John Francis, Delma Thomas, Dougie Bancroft, Jenny Blackford and Beryl Calvin-Thomas attended the cheque presentation to the Wales Air Ambulance.

Caersws Whist Drives take place every Friday evening at the Village Hall.