More than 3,000 women took part in a Race for Life event at the biggest town centre park in Britain.

Race for Life is the UK's biggest women-only fund-raising event and has generated £70 million for Cancer Research UK.

Yesterday 3,009 women runners and walkers followed the 5km boundary round Alexandra Park, Hastings, in temperatures of up to 30C (86F).

They ran, jogged, walked or even limped the route, many of them in celebration of friends or relatives who had suffered from cancer.

The race cards they wore bore the names of those they had lost or were supporting.

Some had their own names written in recognition of their own struggle with the disease while others had pictures of those who had succumbed to the disease.

Husbands, boyfriends, sons and other friends and relatives willed them round the route, hoping they will raise more than last year's total of £76,000.

Among those who took part was headteacher Jenny Blackburn and 19 colleagues from all-girls Helenswood School in The Ridge, St Leonards.

They were running in memory of Helenswood's former head of English Eunice Aubrey who died from cancer in February.

Also running was Caroline Pattenden, 29, a press officer with Hastings Borough Council.

She said: "It was a brilliant day on what was the hottest day of the year.

"Everyone was encouraging everyone else and it was a great atmosphere.

"There were lots of men willing us on from the sidelines and people used water sprays to keep us cool."

Race for Life started in 1994 with 680 women raising £36,000 by running in Battersea Park, London. Since then it has grown beyond recognition. This year it is hoped it will raise £23 million by bringing together 425,000 women in 162 races across the UK.

Cancer Research UK is the world's leading independent organisation dedicated to research into the disease. It has a team of more than 3,000 scientists, doctors and nurses working on prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Two events take place in Stanmer Park, Brighton on Saturday, July 2, and Sunday, July 3.

Last year, the women of Brighton and Hove raised more than £200,000 and the aim is to beat that total this year.

It is the ninth time the race has been held in the city and 7,879 women will be participating.

The Saturday race starts at 2pm and the Sunday race at 11am. Log on to www.raceforlife.org for more information.