Almost £20,000 was raised from a charity fun day at Caersws in memory of a young boy and father-of-two who tragically lost their lives.

Friends of Casey Breese's and Thomas 'Winnie' Evans's families said they were "absolutely blown away" by the community's support at the football festival held in their memory on Friday, June 3.

Some of the notable auction items going under the hammer on the night was a champagne bottle signed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a shirt signed by tennis star Andy Murray.

Organisers have revealed plans to host the Thomas 'Winnie' Evans Cup and Casey Breese Festival every year, including a yet to be announced tribute to Caersws teenager Owen Bennett, "another young Sws person taken far too soon", who sadly died in a car crash in May.

Karl Wigley, event organiser, said: "We have decided that as the community raised it in these tough times we will be giving some money back through various local projects as well as donating to the Wales Air Ambulance and NSPCC.

"I would like to thank all the sponsors, volunteers and auction donors as without them this couldn't happen."

Karl added: "We will be looking at doing this every year to keep the memories of Winnie, Casey and very recently young Owen Bennett alive."

More than 100 people took part in the Caersws charity funday in memory of 12-year-old Casey Breese and Thomas ‘Winnie’ Evans at the Recreation Ground during the Bank Holiday weekend which included a a bouncy castle, barbecue, face painting and beer tent.

Four teams of Winnie's ex-teammates and friends battled it out for the Thomas 'Winnie' Evans Cup with Hugh Clarke's team named the inaugural winners, while more than 70 children took part in the Casey Breese Football Festival.

Caersws Village Club also hosted a charity auction and live music from Conspiracy Theory, Polly Jefferis, Gaz Edmunds and Jason Pryce during the evening.

Casey lost his life while playing with friends at the Rec after a goalpost fell on him more than 10 years ago. His brother-in-law Winnie died aged 34 in a car crash between Caersws and Trefeglwys in September 2021.

The festival remembered Winnie as a "great role model on and off the pitch and will be truly missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know him", and young Casey as a "lively, energetic boy who was full of laughter".