HUNDREDS of shoppers enjoyed a flash mob to publicise Bolton Hospice's Midnight Memories walk.

More than 50 young girls from the Theatre Dance Studio in Halliwell danced along to Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Happy by Pharrell Williams in The Market Place on Saturday afternoon.

Stunned shoppers crowded around on the upper levels of the shopping centre to get a better view of the dancers, who have been preparing specially for the flashmob since March.

Sarah Ward, principal of the group, said: "The girls have been working really hard for this and it was great to have so many people come and support us.

"We were delighted to be able to help Bolton Hospice. Everyone knows someone who has been in the hospice and the wonderful work they do."

The annual walk will this year be held on Saturday, June 20.

This year the walk starts at 10pm instead of midnight, in a bid to attract more families to take part, and it lasts for eight miles starting on Victoria Square, past the hospice on Chorley New Road and back again.

The walk is now in its ninth year, and raised more than £80,000 for the hospice last year.

Participants are invited to take part in memory of a loved one, as a cancer survivor, as part of a team, to keep fit, or just to help raise money for a worthy cause.

Registration costs £15.

For more information: visit bit.ly/1lCT1Zp