A 12-year-old girl taking part in the Race for Life in memory of her father will complete the event on crutches after breaking her foot.

Caitlin Jones said the injury had made her even more determined to honour dad Nigel who died from lung cancer aged 46 in February.

The St. Wilfrid's High School and Technology College pupil had been chosen to wear the number one jersey leading out 1,600 others for the 5k race tomorrow.

For the second year, the Race for Life at Blackburn's Witton Park will see events two nights running, starting tonight.

A total of 3,000 woman from across East Lancashire are taking part to raise cash for Cancer Research UK.

Caitlin, of Somerset Avenue, Darwen, fell over and cracked the fifth metatarsal in her left foot on May 18 while practicing for the race in her garden.

She is now wearing a plaster cast and using crutches, but will not let that stop her completing the event on what would have been her parents' fifth wedding anniversary.

Caitlin said: "I'm really excited about doing the Race for Life.

"It's painful and uncomfortable but it's just made me more determined."

Caitlin's mum, Tracy, said they were thinking about getting Caitlin a wheelchair, but realised it would not have been suitable for the grass.

She said: "Caitlin's going to do as much as she can, and her uncle has volunteered to carry her over the finishing line if need be.

She's been in a lot of pain with it, but come hell or high water this child will be doing the Race for Life.

"She's so determined, that if she had to do it on her hands and knees she would do.

"If Caitlin can do it with a broken foot then anybody else can."

Mrs Jones paid tribute to the staff at the Royal Blackburn Hospital who she said have "gone beyond the call of duty" to help Caitlin make the race.

Caitlin will be joined in the 5k race by family friends, Melanie Hargreaves, Emma-May Hargreaves, George Chatburn, Lyn Seddon and Michelle Chatburn.

She was given the number one jersey and asked to start the race by Jayne Leggat, a co-ordinator of Cancer Research UK's Race for Life, who read about her story in the Lancashire Telegraph.

She hopes to raise £3,000 for the event, having already raised £1,200 at a charity curry night.

It is the tenth year that the event has been held in Blackburn.

Organisers expect the two events to raise £200,000 for Cancer Research UK.