CROWDS gathered to watch two burgesses of Usk walk sheep over the town’s bridge to raise money for a bowel cancer charity.

Ann Wilkinson, aged 76, and Diane Richards, aged 58, were awarded the titles giving them the right to walk livestock through the town last April. Today they walked two farm sheep over the Usk Bridge to raise money for Beating Bowel Cancer.

Mrs Wilkinson has been campaigning for life-prolonging cancer drugs to be available on the NHS in Wales. She was initially refused the drug Avastin for bowel cancer even though it is available on the NHS in England.

Ms Richards, a steward for the Usk branch of the Royal British Legion, had a kidney removed four years ago due to cancer.

She said: “We had the two sheep from a local farm on leads and they were very well behaved. I am one of the lucky ones - I just want to look after the ones that aren’t."

Around 200 people, including Cllr David Harding, the mayor of Usk, joined the duo at the Owain Glyndwr field for a village fete fundraiser where there were stalls, pony rides, and stocks.