THOUSANDS of women stepped out in colourful costumes at the start of a North-East fundraising drive for the country's major cancer charity.

The first of five regional Race for Life events was staged by Cancer Research UK at Saltwell Park, Gateshead. A record field of 2,649 competitors, 1,000 more than last year, were the first of 12,000-plus runners who will be involved in similar events round the region over the next seven weeks.

Many women taking part in the five-kilometer run sported various forms of pink outfit, but some went further, including a trio of staff from Derwentside College in Consett. Lynn Hedley, was dressed as a Christmas tree, bearing tags signed by friends and sponsors who have lost a loved one from cancer.

Lynn, of Lanchester, ran with colleagues Libby Marrs, a fairy from the top of the Christmas tree, and Mary Chambers, in her pyjamas, with a Santa Claus hat.

Race for Life runs will be held next month at Herrington Country Park, near Sunderland, at South Park, Darlington, and at Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough, and in July at Gosforth Park Racecourse, Newcastle. All are fully booked and are expected to raise a record figure, potentially more than £500,000, to aid the fight against cancer.