WORCESTER'S fifth Race for Life proved to be the ultimate summer event.

The sun was shining, the setting ideal, and thousands met at Pitchcroft to support, celebrate and raise money for cancer research yesterday.

More than 3,200 runners were eventually confirmed for the five-kilometre event through the city, which for some was a race, others some exercise and the remainder a leisurely Sunday stroll.

Families began arriving at Worcester racecourse more than two hours early, at 9am, and the party atmosphere soon built up with sunbathing, music and even market stalls the order of the day.

But amid the mini-games of football and laughter, there were also poignant reminders of what had really brought the crowd together.

Pink signs attached to many of the entrants' backs showed how cancer has touched their lives, with many suffering personal tragedies and running in memory of loved ones.

And Nick Wright, from Cancer Research UK, thanked everyone present for their efforts to help combat the disease in the future.

"We are hoping to raise more than £17m from 130 races to really make a difference to our research in the future," he said.

"To be honest it's a little bit hot to be ideal running conditions so the turn-out is absolutely fantastic.

"There is a Race for Life event in Evesham today, and one in Bromsgrove later in June, so the support we have received from Worcestershire has been tremendous.

"We were hoping to raise more than £150,000 today, and we are fairly confident that we have, and speaking to the emergency services, who have been great during the event, the whole operation seems to have gone very smoothly."

The route took runners from Pitchcroft to the High Street, via Castle Street, The Butts, Angel Place and various twists and turns through the city centre.

As a result, the police had to close a number of roads to traffic - but if they were worried about the public's reaction to possible delays they need not have been.

The police, like the runners, enjoyed the overwhelming support of the thousands who turned out to cheer on friends and family on a day that brought the community together.