DOZENS of pink and purple balloons were released into the autumn sunshine in memory of teenager Sasha Marsden.

A rounders tournament was held at Bolton Cricket Club, Green Lane, Great Lever, to raise money for charity following the death of the 16-year-old in January 2012.

She was sexually assaulted and murdered in Blackpool, and her family are now raising money for Lancashire Safe (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination) Centre.

Don't You Worry Child, by Swedish House Mafia, was played in memory of Sasha, who attended St Matthew’s Primary School, Little Lever, until year four before moving to Blackpool with her parents Jayne and Gary.

Mrs Marsden, who used to live in Little Lever, said: “The event is brilliant.

“I knew there would be sunshine. Sasha would love being the centre of attention. Pink and purple were her favourite colours.

“I come back to Bolton because it’s where all the family are, everyone has been so supportive.”

Sixteen teams of 11 took to the field to battle it out in the rounders tournament while spectators cheered them on.

There were also stalls selling jewellery, face-painting, a raffle, tombola, bouncy castles and refreshment for sale.

Sasha’s aunt Dawn Lowe, who lives in Settle Street, helped organise the event.

She said: “We just wanted to help the Safe Centre out. Tom, Sasha’s brother did a parachute jump in Morecambe the other week.

“I’ve played rounders for years and so has my other sister Lesley.

“It’s just friends of friends of friends. Everyone in the rounders community, they’re just so helpful.

“We’re always doing tournaments for different charities throughout they year, we just do various ones for people such as Sasha.

“It’s something sudden, you just help out the best way you can do.”

David Minto, 23, from Blackpool, was found guilty of Sasha's murder in July and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum time of 35 years to serve before being eligible for parole.