A HOST of flamboyantly dressed fundraisers put their best foot forward yesterday in aid of Rossendale Hospice.

People turned out in their droves to lend their support to the charity by donning a range of colourful outfits and walking or running the three-mile course.

Starting in Whitaker Park, in Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, at 12.30pm, groups finished the sponsored walk to a cheerleading group before being handed their medals by funnyman Ted Robins.

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The actor and television presenter, who lives in Rossendale, completed half of the walk before returning to the start/finish ready to hand out the medals. Still recovering from a heart attack this year, he said: “This has been a fantastic event and very well organised.

“It was great to see so many people turn out to support the hospice in this way.

“I am very happy to support this charity because they do such fantastic work.

“My recovery is going well and I am pleased that I managed to walk half of the course.”

Paul Gauntlett, head of fundraising for the hospice, said: “This kind of event provides vital funding for the hospice that keeps us going.

“It is the second time that we have held it and this year has been as successful as 2014.

“We have to find around £500,000 in voluntary donations every year and without events like this we would not be able to provide the service that we do currently.”

Carmen Straccia, 47, of Newchurch, said: “It is a great local event to be a part of and it is good to support a local charity such as this.”

Natalie Ashworth, 33, of the Boars Head pub team, Rawtenstall, said: “It was nice to raise money for the hospice. The team and I hope to have raised around £50.”

For more details, call 01706 253633, option three, or email fundraising@rossendale hospice.org.