HUNDREDS of girls came together for a colourful fundraiser to buy post-operative bras for women battling breast cancer in Bolton.

About 400 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Young Leaders, aged five to 18, from across Bolton, descended on St James CE Secondary School, in Lucas Road, Farnworth, on Friday night.

They sang camp fire songs, played games, and took part in raffles and tombolas, in a bid to raise several thousand pounds for the Breast Unit at Royal Bolton Hospital.

Clare Garnsey, a consultant breast surgeon at Bolton Breast Unit, said: “I thought it would be a couple of tables and a handful of girls.

“I’ve arrived and there’s a few hundred girls. It’s an amazing event, with lots of things you can take part in.

“It’s just lovely to see the community taking such an interest in helping the ladies in Bolton that we try and look after.

“It’s really good that these very young girls get to talk about something like breast cancer that maybe 10 or 20 years ago wouldn’t have been talked about so openly.”

Post-operative bras are designed to help make recovery from breast surgery more comfortable, and they differ based on the type of surgery.

Mal Sheridan, healthcare assistant at the hospital, said: “It just makes them feel that bit better when they’ve come out of hospital after an operation.”

Diane Eckersley, guide leader at St Andrew’s Guides, Bromley Cross, arranged the mass event after a talent show, held in July, raised £1,400.

She said: “We have got a couple of girls who have mums who were going through breast cancer treatment, and one of our ladies works at the hospital.”

They also collected old bras, which will be sent by Bra Amnesty to Africa.