IT was a tug of war against a killer disease.

Hundreds of people stepped up to a challenge of strength and helped pull off a bumper fundraiser.

The annual Tugsticular tug of war competition was back - and this time it was bigger than ever.

A record breaking 144 people took part in the event at Wide Lane Sports Field in Eastleigh in teams of eight raising more than £2,300.

Numbers were up on last year’s event which saw 112 people help raise £1,800 for the cause.

This year’s winners were the Shirley Boys of Pure Gym Shirley and The FA Team from Pure Gym Bitterne.

The third annual event was organised by retired Southampton General Hospital doctor Norma Waite and her friends Dale Jackman, a fitness trainer at Pure Gym in Bitterne and trainee beautician Dominic Richardson, all from Bitterne.

For more information about the charity visit tenovuscancercare.org.uk Cash will go to Tenovus Cancer Care which supports families affected by testicular cancer, to fund vital research into the disease and work with communities to help prevent cancer.