Bra walkers in midnight marathon

Organisers are hoping the London Moonwalk will raise more than £5m Enlarge Image

Thousands of women, and men, have walked a marathon through the night wearing decorated bras to raise money for breast cancer research.

Some 15,500 walkers took part in the 10th Moonwalk - a 26-mile night-time trek through the streets of London.

TV presenter Charlie Dimmock, actress Lisa Faulkner and Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt joined the event.

Founder Nina Barough, who has herself had breast cancer, said they were expecting to raise more than £5m.

Now in its tenth year, Ms Barough said the annual event had began with just 25 participants.

"When I first started the thought of having women in bras in London on a Saturday night was not a good combination but it's just captured people's spirit and energy, and it's raised millions," she said.

The event began in Hyde Park on Saturday night with a recorded message of support from Prince Charles.

Cancer affects everyone - when my mum passed away nobody talked about cancer, it was very much a taboo subject Lisa Faulkner

Then, under a giant pink marquee, entrants took part in a warm-up session that broke the record for the greatest number of people to take part in a session at any one time.

The circular route took in many of London's most famous landmarks including the Millennium Bridge, Tower Bridge and the London Eye.

Lisa Faulkner, who lost her mother to cancer when she was 14, said: "The main reason I was so keen to get involved is to help raise awareness.

"Cancer affects everyone - when my mum passed away nobody talked about cancer, it was very much a taboo subject."