Witney town centre was a sea of pink as musicians, dancers and street entertainers joined forces to raise money to fight breast cancer.

About 700 pink balloons and ribbons decorated shops and businesses to mark the seventh annual Pink Day in aid of Oxfordshire charity Against Breast Cancer (ABC).

Organisers say about £4,500 was raised, with more money expected to pour in.

Saturday shoppers lined Witney's streets to get a glimpse of quirky percussion group Bang On! who were semi-finalists in TV show Britain's Got Talent.

Elsewhere, Curves Gym had an exhibition, and Queen Emma's Morris and opera singer Elizabeth Cameron were among many acts who entertained the crowds.

Volunteers toured the streets to collect cash, and sell balloons and sweets to children. Stalls selling bric-a-brac and cakes were set up outside the Post Office and made a whopping £700.

Many shops also got involved in the day decorating their premises and vying to win the best dressed shop award. Stores were judged by Patricia Leathem, chairman of ABC, who was driven around the town in a lipstick pink cabriolet Mini by Karen Gibson, of Kennington.

One of the organisers, Denise Barkley, said: "A week or so before we went around all the shops and put a packet of three balloons through doors.

"You will see lots of shop windows decorated and they always put the three balloons out to show solidarity."

She said Pink Day was firmly on Witney's events calendar and had become a community effort.

"You really cannot miss is. Because it is so well known everyone looks forward to it — it was a real community event. People come up to us and say it is brilliant. It is a real town event."

Although there is a core committee of seven organisers, Ms Barkley said lots of people helped out with the day. She said: "A lot of people are affected by breast cancer so you get a lot of support."

Fears that the cold weather and current economic climate would affect the event proved unfounded.

Pink Day was the brainchild of Jeanne Chattoe, chairman of the Witney fundraising team for Against Breast Cancer. Her sister died from the disease several years ago and Ms Chattoe started a host of fundraising events, eventually coming up with Pink Day.