ARMED with pink cagoules and umbrellas, rain failed to put off determined fundraisers at a town's colourful cancer research event this weekend.

Music, dancing and bras took over Abingdon's Market Place for the annual Splash of Pink fun day on Saturday, with the town bursting with shades from rose to raspberry in support of local charity Against Breast Cancer.

There was plenty of singing in the rain to keep people entertained, with Abingdon Operatic Society, Abingdon Rock Choir, Oxford Gospel Events Choir, the Abbey Brass Band and Abingdon Community Choir raising their voices and instruments throughout the day.

Dance performances, meanwhile, included Mr Hemmings' Morris Men, the Strawberry Fayre Majorettes and the Ashnah Tribal Belly Dancers.

Stormtroopers, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and a giant Pikachu also mingled among the crowds, who stayed warm thanks to hot snacks from the Crown and Thistle pub and sweet treats by Fiona Frost from Bake A Change.

New for this year, a flashmob also invaded the market square plus there was the traditional collection of games and craft stalls showcasing local traders.

The event was opened by Abingdon mayor Margaret Crick, who also helped pick the winning shop in a competition for the best dressed window display.

Traders went all out with Willow's Shakeshop coming out on top thanks to a window filled with hot pink paper concertina circles, balloons and hanging pastel pink drinks.

Co-owner Terry Stuart even donned a matching outfit complete with a tutu as part of the fun.

There was also face-painting, a tombola and lucky dip, as well as a recycling area where people could bring old bras and find out how Against Breast Cancer uses them to support projects in Togo, Ghana and Kenya.

The charity is currently running Bin Your Bra, a textile recovery project which prevents bras going into landfill by giving them a new lease of life in developing countries, where bras remain too expensive to produce locally.

For every tonne of bras collected, the charity receives £700 to fund its research.

Martin Eggleston, community fundraiser for Against Breast Cancer said: “There is such a wealth of talent in and around Abingdon, and this event provides a real showcase for so much of what makes this town special.

"It really is wonderful how the local community comes out every year to support the vital research into secondary spread breast cancer undertaken by the charity.”

Money raised will help the organisation fund research into the secondary spread of breast cancer and how to increase survival chances for those diagnosed with the disease.

For more information about the charity visit againstbreastcancer.org.uk.