THE sky above Bradford College was turned a bright shade of pink yesterday as 100 balloons were released to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Staff and students were also encouraged to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which raises about £2 million every year for research into the disease.

The balloons were released by Early Years students in front of the college's new campus, The David Hockney Building.

More than 100 students and ten staff took part in the day, and Lenka Kaur, inclusion and diversity coordinator at the college, said: “It was a wonderful opportunity for everybody at Bradford College to come together to raise awareness of breast cancer, as this is an issue that can affect anyone.”

Students from the college's Hospitality and Catering department also made cupcakes throughout the day to raise funds for the campaign.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month was introduced to the UK almost 20 years ago, and exists to help women become more aware of the common symptoms of the condition so they can seek help as early as possible to increase the chance of surviving the disease.

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women in the UK, with nearly 55,000 people diagnosed every year.

If caught early, more than eight out of ten people, 85 per cent, survive breast cancer beyond five years.