Three and a half thousand women let cancer know they were coming to get it when they took part in a 5k run around Epsom Downs Racecourse on the hottest day so far.

A formidable army of mums, daughters, sisters, grandmas, aunts and friends, kitted out in every shade of pink, assembled on the front line for the Epsom Race for Life event on Sunday, June 30.

They ran, jogged or walked the challenge, aiming to raise money for Cancer Research UK. 

The hot weather proved to be an extra challenge on the day with the temperature reaching 27C, but the fastest competitor completed the race in 22 minutes.

The many spectators loved the sunshine and enjoyed music, dancing, aerobics and lashings of ice cream.

Fiona Murray, event manager, said: "We are so very grateful to all our participants, supporters and wonderful volunteers who helped make Race for Life in Epsom such an amazing event.

"Now the big day is over, we are asking everyone to take one last step - by returning the money they’ve raised so it can go into vital research to help more men, women and children survive cancer.

"Cancer Research UK doesn’t receive any Government funding for its ground-breaking work.

"The money local people raise through Race for Life is crucial because it means we can go on supporting the pioneering work of doctors, nurses and scientists who are fighting cancer on all fronts. 

"With help from the people of Epsom, we intend to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured."

For the first time, groups were invited to sign up together, as well as individuals, and men and children were also encouraged to come along on the day and get involved.

But numbers on the day fell well short of the 4,250 participants that Cancer Research had hoped would take part and were 1,000 less than last year when 4,612 women and girls put on their running shoes to take part and raised £336,994 for the charity.