BOLTON turned into a pink wonderland when hundreds of women walked eight miles through the night in aid of Bolton Hospice.

A total of 2,000 women — many donning pink wigs, tutus and even pyjamas — took part in the Midnight Memories walk on Saturday night, raising an estimated £194,000 for the charity.

Debra Graham, the hospice’s director of fundraising, said: “It was great to see such support for Bolton Hospice.

“The walk really brings the community together.

“The important thing now is for everyone to get their sponsorship in — that is the key to the walk’s success.

“We’re so proud of all the walkers. We hope to see them again next year.”

Women arrived at Victoria Square to see the town hall lit in pink and to take part in energetic warm-up routines, led by instructors from the David Lloyd gym.

Then, on the stroke of midnight, the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Norman Critchley, sent the pink army on its way.

He said: “It was an absolutely marvellous sight, and what better a place to start than the town hall.

“The walkers are wonderful people. The hospice is a very worthwhile cause.”

A pink trail weaved its way from the town centre, along Chorley New Road, past the hospice, to the Beehive roundabout and then back.

The walkers returned to the town hall to soothe their tired legs, where they were given a medal, goody bag and well-deserved bacon butty.

Care worker Karen Towler, aged 41, from Halliwell, took part in the walk with six colleagues. Some of the care workers’ patients had been looked after at the hospice.

She said: “It wasn’t as tough as I expected to be honest.

“The last stretch was pretty hard, but it was all worth it because the hospice is such a great cause.”

Lucy Diggle, aged 10, from Heaton, walked with her mum.

She said: “I’m pretty tired, but I really enjoyed it. I decided to take part because I thought it would be a fun way to raise money for the hospice.”

Anita Hindley, aged 50, from Farnworth, had a hip replacement seven years ago — she walked with a crutch for part of the way and had to be pushed in a wheelchair for the rest of the walk.

She said: “A friend of mine is in the hospice at the moment. It is a wonderful place so I was determined to do my bit to raise some money for it. The atmosphere has been brilliant.”

But it wasn’t just the women who did their bit — lots of men marshalled the course, cheering the walkers on their way.

Nicola Stones, aged 45, from Bradshaw, said: “Everyone in Bolton got behind us. We got a taxi into town and the driver refused to let us pay, telling us to donate the money to the hospice instead, and then when we arrived another guy gave us a fiver.

“It felt like a real community event and I’m proud I was part of it.”

You can see all the pictures from this event in our Photo Sales section. Click here