With 10 days to spare, the appeal by the National Trust for £4m to buy land on the southern flank of Snowdon has passed its target.

The actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, president of the NT Snowdonia appeal, said a total of £4.16m had been raised in cash and promises.

Any additional money will be used to care for the land the trust is buying.

At 3,560 feet (about 1200 metres), Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales.

The trust already owns 50,000 acres of countryside in the district. This new purchase, on the mountain's southern flank, will add another 4,000 acres.

Support still needed

Sir Anthony, who himself gave £1m to the appeal launched four months ago, said he wanted to thank everyone who had been able to make a donation.

He added: "We still need to care for this magnificent environment, so please continue to support the appeal."

The National Trust estimates that more than a quarter of a million people have contributed to the appeal. But it says the total figure does include many promises of support, which have not yet been delivered.

Money is still needed for upkeep

A spokesman said: "We urge all those who have pledged their support or who are currently thinking about making a donation, or who are holding money they have collected, to act now."

The Vice-President of the appeal, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, said the trust continued "to be overwhelmed by the strength of support".

The purchase price the trust is paying will also buy the sheep which graze on the land.

The seller, farmer Richard Williams, said he was sorry to let go of land which had been in his family for 400 years.