WHEN push comes to shove you can't beat Blackpool's taxi drivers.

That's why a bunch of Blackpool cabbies got together to try and push up the total amount of money raised for a cancer charity.

It was the latest fundraising attempt on behalf of the Macmillan Windmill Appeal, sponsored by Creative Windows, and it raised £1,000.

Deputy Director of fundraising Elaine Fossett described how members of the Blackpool Licensed Taxi Operators Association (BLTOA) gathered to push a cab along the Promenade from North Pier to the Sandcastle and all the way back, while fund raisers carried charity boxes and buckets to collect donations from passers-by, pictured. Blackpool's Mayor, Councillor Granville Heap, fired the pistol which started "the big push", and the taxi was followed by a procession featuring a variety of other supporters. Some 40 members of the newly-crowned Blackpool Crusaders Morris Dancing Troup were in tow to make sure people would notice, and they were particularly jubilant after their recent victory at the World Championship in Wales.

They were closely followed by the Festival Jazz Band -- long time supporters of Blackpool Victoria Hospital -- an enthusiastic group of line dancers, and a fleet of ten cabs representing the development of taxis down the years.

Elaine Fossett said: "We were on the verge of cancelling the whole thing because the weather was so awful, but at the last minute the clouds parted and the sun came out.

"It turned out to be a great success and the response was wonderful. We're extremely grateful to everyone who took part."