THOUSANDS of women ran, jogged and walked around a North-East park to raise money for charity today.

Bright blue skies greeted the 4,000 women of all ages in the Darlington Race for Life as they made their way round the 5km course.

It is the eighth time the popular charity event has been held in the town's South Park and this year the race hopes to raise more than £197,500 for charity.

The event is organised by Cancer Research UK and is one of 230 Races for Life which are taking place across the country.

In Darlington the race was started by 14-year-old Lilli Broadbent, from High Coniscliffe, near Darlington, who was diagnosed with cancer last year.

Lilli, a Hummersknott school pupil, has successfully battled osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

Many of the runners bore the names of the people who inspired them to take part in the event pinned to their backs.

The first runner to cross the finish line was 12-year-old Indigo Hilton, a Polam Hall pupil from Darlington.

Full report and pictures in tomorrow's Northern Echo