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DOZENS of women and girls donned garish pink outfits, waved pom-poms and danced the day away at the Chelmsford Race for Life launch event on Saturday.

Cancer Research staged a carnival-style party in the High Street to get passers-by to sign up for the annual race in which 5,000 women are expected to run through Hylands Park in July.

Dance groups, Platinum Majorettes and Dance Projection, performed dazzling routines for shoppers and even convinced some to learn the moves to Cancer Slam, the charity's Race for Life routine. Volunteers also sold pink flowers, raising just under £1,000 for the charity.

Breast cancer survivor and mother-of-three Nikki Brewer, 31, from Great Baddow, who helped at the launch event and even painted her body in a pink camouflage pattern, said: "It's thanks to charities like Cancer Research that I'm still here today, so it's very important to me to get involved.

"The launch event was amazing, and my children love to help out with me. It was great to have the support from all of the volunteers and Race for Life staff. Local shops such as Starbucks, Giraffe and Millie's Cookies provided drinks and snacks for us."

Nikki is running the 5k race in Chelmsford and also the alternative Pretty Muddy obstacle course event in Ipswich on her hen-do before she marries Ben Kilpin.

Event manager Gill Burgess said: "I'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone that supported us and made donations. I hope many women get involved and sign up for Race for Life."

The Race for Life campaign is the largest women-only fundraising event in the UK and raised £526 million, with the Chelmsford event contributing £280,000.

To sign up to a Race for Life event near you, learn the dances moves to the Cancer Slam, or give a donation visit raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.

Drivers are being diverted away from a bridge in Slough over the Easter weekend, which is being replaced as part of the Crossrail project.

An inquest was opened into the death of 12-year-old cyclist Mateusz Kucinski yesterday.

SACKED Miss Oxfordshire contestant, Georgia Eden, said she has received a personal message of support from comedian David Walliams.

SHE has experienced a century of change in Oxford. But a modest Margaret Rose, who turns 100 today, said she’ll treat it as “just another day”.

A driver was caught speeding at 76mph in a 50mph zone on the A44 yesterday morning.

A crash between a lorry and a bus on the Wolvercote roundabout caused traffic delays yesterday.

Flytipping doesn’t only affect farmers. People with no thought for others tip rubbish all over the place, on community open spaces, roadsides and in ditches.

ALL eyes will be on the Crucible this weekend as the World Snooker Championship gets underway. And defending world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan will undoubtedly start among the hot favourites as he looks to claim his sixth world crown. O'Sullivan is seeded number one and starts against Finland's world number 122 Robin Hull, who is the lowest ranked competitor in this year's tournament. Hull, who came through four rounds of qualifying to reach the sport's biggest stage, faces a tough task against O'Sullivan, who has been in scintillating form this year, winning the Masters in January and the Welsh Open with a maximum break of 147 in March. Marco Fu, last year's finalist Barry Hawkins and Chinese star Ding Junhui are in the same half of the draw, with world number one Neil Robertson seeded number two and the top seed in the bottom half. He starts against Crucible debutant Robbie Williams, while another of those tipped for the title, Ding Junhui, starts against another debutant Michael Wasley. There are two other debutants this year, Kyren Wilson and Xiao Guodong, with the Chinese world number 25 the most likely to cause an upset or two on their Crucible bow. He faces Englishman Ali Carter in the first round. There are some notable absentees this year, including former champions Peter Ebdon, Mark Williams and Graeme Dott and two-time finalist Matthew Stevens. But I feel the winner of the tournament will come from one of the top names in the world though, with Robertson, O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and 2007 finalist Mark Selby all among the contenders. Four-time champion John Higgins cannot be forgotten, and nor can last year's finalist Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy or number six seed Stuart Bingham, who faces Ken Doherty in the first round. But my tip is O'Sullivan, with the Rocket the man in form and chasing a sixth crown.

The start of the Devizes to Westmister canoe race has been delayed after the body of a man was found 100 metres from the start line at Devizes Wharf.

Gary Barlow has praised Nottingham fans for their support at his packed out show at the Capital FM Arena on Thursday. The Take That frontman tweeted how thrilled he was at the experience after the concert, saying : "Dear Nottingham, what a crowd, thank you thank you." Barlow played all the big hits to an ecstatic crowd, including Back For Good, Could It Be Magic and Rule The World. He was supported by Eliza Doolittle, who previewed the show yesterday afternoon on Smithy Row by busking to surprised crowds. Suzi Stevenson tweeted: "Gary Barlow, you were amazing, you never fail to deliver... love you great man :)" Sarah Garner also tweeted after the concert, adding: "What an amazing night in Nottingham last [night]. Top drawer Gary Barlow tour. Just brilliant!"

The Friends of Lewes, the town’s Civic Society, is leading a call to local residents for information about historic and important buildings at risk of loss or dilapidation.

A biker and cyclist were taken to hospital after a crash in Chainhill Road yesterday.

A PIONEERING scheme to locate missing dementia patients has been forced to close after it found only one lost OAP in 18 months.

Three robbery suspects have all been rebailed again by police investigating a raid where a suspected robber died.

ORGANISERS of the cancelled Passion Play have forgiven a council officer who has admitted making a mistake.

IRISH artist Sean Lynch brought his show of stone carvings to Modern Art Oxford to honour tradesmen who made the city great.

A SPECTATOR at a charity football match at a High Wycombe school was punched in the face and hit around the head by two men.

Abdul Khan was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting playing a leading role in drug dealing in the town

Two grieving fiancées were distraught after the driver who killed both their partners was jailed for 10 years.