A VISION in pink floated through York, as fundraising women launched a knitting cruise on the Ouse.

The effort, in aid of The Breast Cancer Campaign, saw needles clicked furiously on the boat, which was decorated with pink balloons and banners.

Scarves in all shades of pink were created, which will be sold to raise cash.

Breast cancer patients were among the scores of people who took part in two relaxing cruises.

Organiser Dorothy Kendall said: "Several people in my family have been affected by breast cancer and I was touched by the number of patients who came to take part.

"Tourists in the town also wanted to help and we had people from as far away as Aberdeen coming to knit."

The event, which marked both Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Knitting Week, helped raise cash for the charity.

Dorothy, who runs the Sheepish shop in York's Shambles, added: "The knitting wool was donated and we created dozens of scarves in all different shades of pink.

"We chose scarves because we knew it was something easy for everybody to do."

A pink knit also took place at the Sheepish shop in Knaresborough, where more of the finished scarves were on display. The winter warmers are being sold at the branches and at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show in November to raise charity cash.

Thousands of events are being held across the country during October for breast cancer care and research.

Women are wearing ribbons and holding pink-themed events to help continue the success of falling death rates from the cancer.

Harrowell Shaftoe Solicitors in York held a pink fun day.

That event raised £681.35 for Cancer Research UK.

It included £137 raised by one of the partners who took part in the Great North Run.

Sponsored walks are also taking place up and down the country, including one at Ripley Castle on October 23.

Updated: 10:04 Thursday, October 13, 2005