A Penarth pensioner is set to celebrate his 90th birthday by swimming a mile for Ty Hafan.

Colin Evans has chosen to commemorate his milestone on May 14 by swimming for Ty Hafan Children's Hospice within an hour.

"It was my daughter Jill who told me about Ty Hafan," said Mr Evans, a former head of Sir Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest.

"She lives in the States but when she visits she always spends some time as a volunteer at Ty Hafan.

Mr Evans, awarded an OBE for his services to education, plans to use the day to give something back.

"I don't know how I would cope if I was told that one of my children was not going to live.

"So on my 90th birthday, I've decided to swim a mile with a smile, and hopefully complete it in just one hour."

A sports enthusiast, he played prop for Bath Rugby Football Club and Gorseinon Rugby Club, whilst working at a variety of schools.

"I loved playing rugby but I don't recall ever being taught to swim," Mr Evans said. "Growing up on the coast, it was just something I could always do.

"I’ve always swam regularly."

Despite recent pool closures in Cogan, he remains unfazed: "I actually did my first swim in six months the other day, and I managed 50 lengths in an hour, so not too bad at all.

"On my birthday, I am aiming to do 64 lengths in an hour, which will equate to a mile."