THOUSANDS of women wearing pink took on an obstacle course through Poole Park to raise money for a cancer charity.

Ladies of all ages and their families descended into the first Cancer Research Pretty Muddy 5K yesterday, which saw runners set off in waves from 10am to travel around the park taking on various challenges.

These included stepping through tyres, crawling under cargo nets and splashing into a pool of mud at the bottom of a slide.

Sam Beare, Cancer Research's event manager for the south, said: "We had over 3,000 at the Pretty Muddy and then 1,300 people taking part in the Race for Life on Sunday.

"Pretty Muddy is something different and a challenge but it's accessible to everyone, it's fun and people can take part with their friends."

Christine Fox, 55, from Poole, said: "It was for a good cause. A couple of my friends have been diagnosed with cancer, with one having gone through it and survived it and another going through treatment at the moment."

Her friend, Dominique Imber, 43, from Hertfordshire, said: "I was talked into it by my friend, but I hate mud. I was just doing it to raise money for charity as I've done the Race for Life before, but with this event, we had no idea what we were in for."

Kirsty Bryant, 28, from Northbourne, who was running as part of a group of six friends and family, said: "I did the event for my nan and grandad, who have both died from cancer. In total, my friends and I have raised over £1,500 for charity."

Jody Denton from Christchurch was also running with two friends. She said: "It's a really good cause. There are so many lives affected by cancer. I was doing Pretty Muddy for my friend, Nikki Hastings, who died two years ago. I decided to do the event instead of the Race for Life in Bournemouth. I do so many events throughout the year to raise money for charity."