FORMER Coronation Street star Gaynor Faye is calling on people in Worcester to take part in a series of sponsored walks in aid of cancer research.

Gaynor, who played barmaid Judy Mallett who collapsed and died while hanging out the washing, is backing the Stride for Life campaign.

The charity, Cancer Research UK, has organised a series of 10km walks through 43 of the most beautiful parks in Britain including Croft Castle, near Leominster, and Sudeley Castle, near Winchcombe.

"Bring family, friends and colleagues together for the Stride for Life," said Gaynor, who also appeared in Fat Friends.

"Each week in Britain nearly 700 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and one in nine women will be affected by this disease at some time.

"Recovery rates are improving every year. But there is still a long way to go.

"As the largest funder of research into breast cancer than any other UK charity, Cancer Research UK will be spending more than £15m a year as part of a commitment to finding new ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease."

The walks will be held at Croft Castle on Sunday, October 6, and at Sudeley Castle on Sunday, October 20.

To find our more, ring Cancer UK's hotline on 08701 602040 or click onto the website on www.cancerresearch.org