THEY came in their thousands to raise money for a cause so close to their hearts.

Young girls, mums, sisters, aunties and grannies all ready to face the Race for Life challenge.

Some were running in memory of friends and family members lost to cancer while others were celebrating the fact they had beaten the cruel disease.

Whatever the reason, they were all united in a common cause to raise as much money as possible to bring a cure that much closer.

The sun beat down on the 5km course on Southampton Common but no one allowed the high temperatures that topped more than 30 degrees, to stand in their way.

Ten thousand ran the course which follows Hill Lane, along the top of the Common to The Avenue where a sea of women spilled on to the main route into the city.

It was a dramatic sight with thousands of heads bobbing along and the intense patter of feet on the ground.

Then it was back on to the Common for the last kilometre or so and well-wishers lined the route offering words of encouragement and cold water.

Organisers hope Race for Life in Southampton, which is the largest single race of its kind in the country will raise more than £600,000 for Cancer Research UK.

For the first time, the Southampton event also had a donation station where participants could hand in bags of clothes and household items that will go on sale in the city's Cancer Research UK shops.

The stall was doing brisk business and donations will mean even more money can be raised by the city event.

Organiser Lorna Glanfield said: " It was a fabulous day. It was just so wonderful to see so many women coming togetheer for the 10th anniversary race in the city."