ONE thousand crocus bulbs will be planted by local schoolchildren and Basingstoke council, in memory of the 1,000 women who die of breast cancer every month in the UK, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The annual campaign is called "Cover Britain in Crocuses" and the planting takes place in Basingstoke on October 16, between 10am and 1pm at the War Memorial Park.

Members of the public are invited to join the park rangers along the woodland walk of the park to help plant the bulbs.

Jane Wilding, a health improvement officer at Basingstoke council, said: "Both the Health Improvement Team and the park rangers are always pleased to support this wonderful initiative.

"A similar event held last year was very successful and we know that with the help of local schoolchildren and residents, their hard work will once again ensure that the woodland walk is a beautiful place to visit next spring.

"It will also be a reminder of Breakthrough's vital programme of research into breast cancer."

Children aged two to five from Orchard Day Nursery will be helping to plant the bulbs in the morning and Kings School and Fairfields School will be making a contribution in the afternoon.

Emma Davies, a nursing manager at the Orchard Day Nursery, said: "The children are looking forward to it and it's one of many different things we have planned for them.

"They will hopefully make a good job of it - they like to get dirty."