WITNEY is gearing up for its annual Pink Day - and organisers promise it will be bigger and better than ever.

The sixth Witney in the Pink Day takes place on Saturday, October 6, and the Witney fundraising team of the Oxfordshire charity Against Breast Cancer (ABC) is aiming to smash last year's record total of £5,000, with a packed programme of community fun.

As always, the town centre will be a vista of pink balloons, and ABC Witney is hoping that as many shops and businesses as possible will show their support by putting up balloons and taking part in the best dressed shop window competition - which will be judged by the town mayor, Chrissie Curry, who will be chauffeured by Karen Gibson in her pink Mini.

Witney in the Pink Day is the Witney team's major fundraising event of the year. Last year, they raised more than £24,000 from a range of events - from a ladies' dinner and fashion show to craft stalls and coffee mornings.

"Pink Day is a fantastic event, which receives huge support from the people of Witney," said ABC Witney chairman, Jeanne Chattoe.

"As well as raising money for ABC's pioneering research, it is also lots of fun - I think anyone who comes into town on October 6 will be bowled over by the atmosphere.

"It is incredibly humbling to be collecting in the High Street, and to hear people's stories about how breast cancer has affected their loved ones.

"This is a cause close to our hearts, and to the people of the town - and we hope everyone will come along and support us."

Pink Day always takes place in October - National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As well as a street collection, from 10am there will be stalls outside the post office selling pink accessories, cakes, jewellery, and bric-a-brac. Under the Woolgate clock, tickets will be sold for a Big Pink Balloon Race. The winner - the owner of the balloon which travels furthest - will win £100, donated by The Good Deal Directory, with two runners-up prizes of £50 vouchers, donated by, and to be redeemed at, North Oxford Mini dealership, Long Hanborough.

Funky T-shirts from the Perfectly Pink company - who donate £2 from each T-shirt sold to ABC - will also be on sale. Anyone who would like to buy T-shirts, £15 each, to wear on Pink Day, can order them at Renaissance, in Wesley Walk, Witney, phone 01993 848539, or order online from www.theperfectlypinkcompany.com Entertainers, including Witney Town Band, Mason's Apron Morris, Queen Emma's Morris and Hazazz belly dancers, will be performing at various locations around the town. Even Witney police are getting into the spirit of the occasion by donning pink ties for the day.

Many shops and businesses in the town are organising their own fundraising events, including Hackett's bar, which will be selling pink cocktails, and Mortgage Options, who are donating £50 to ABC for every mortgage arranged during October.

Anyone who would like a collection tin should call Laura Hounam, on 01993 778456.