A HEAD TEACHER battling breast cancer was tickled pink after staff and pupils held a special fund-raising day in her honour.

Sian Williams, head teacher at St Thomas More School, Walderslade, was diagnosed in July with the disease and is in the middle of a course of treatment.

As part of the charity day, pupils and staff paid £1 to dress in pink, with all proceeds going to Breast Cancer UK.

The pupils helped teacher Allison Lloyd with preparations, which included organising raffles, a bring-and-buy sale, baking cakes and other refreshments.

Ms Williams said: “Everyone has been fantastic. After announcing I was ill, I have received so much support from well-wishers.

“Many people have been praying for me, which has given me great strength, and they have been much more supportive than I could ever have imagined. I really feel as though everyone is backing me 100 per cent.”

Lauren Baffett, aged nine, said: “I really enjoyed today. I brought some pink socks for the bring-and-buy sale and I organised the raffle too.”

The organiser of the charity day, teacher Ms Lloyd, praised her colleague for her courage.

She said: “What’s amazing is that Sian has come into school all the way through her treatment.

“Many of us are good friends outside of school and we have all been on hand to help and support Sian.

“We are very lucky to have a community school as we do, where people care for each other.

“Sian has loved having the children and staff around her. They are a great inspiration to her and keep her going.”

More than 1800 raffle tickets have been sold, raising £800.