THE number of women who have entered Craven's first Race for Life has exceeded all expectations.

In total 1,400 runners are now registered and the entry line has had to be closed.

The five kilometre race at Broughton Hall on June 8 will raise funds for research and treatment into cancers that affect women.

Organisers are still looking for volunteers to help with the race. Helpers should arrive at the venue between 8am and 10am or contact the hotline on 08705 134314.

The race's youngest runners will be four-year-olds Amy Jones and Grace Canny, both from Skipton. They are part of Homeloan Management's 82 strong team.

The company has invited women from smaller businesses, which did not have enough staff to make up a team, to join its squad. Its team will comprise staff from HML, Sante Health and Beauty, Carleton School, Northern Paper Board, Devonshire Stores Plants and Busy Bears.

A spokesman for HML said its sister company Skipton Building Society might have more women in its team but HML thought it would raise more money!

o Runners who have still not decided what they are going to wear on the day might get some inspiration from Lynton Dransfield at Image On It on Brougham Street, Skipton.

He is offering to print images and logos on to team T-shirts and is donating five per cent of all sales to Cancer Research UK. He can be contacted on 01756 799055.