IT WAS the biggest and the best Race for Life event in the UK - and Southampton can be justifiably proud.

Just short of 10,000 women took part in the Cancer Research UK fundraising run and their efforts are set to raise £694,000.

They came in fancy dress and with poignant messages on their backs - some were cancer survivors and others were running in memory of loved ones.

Every woman was intent on making it round the 5km course that covered Southampton Common and a stretch of The Avenue.

See tonight's Daily Echo for our 20-page Race for Life special with loads of pictures and a list of every participant.

Log on to www.efotosales.com to order pictures or see the unpublished photographs.