A dreadlocked grandmother with seven colours in her hair is celebrating the release of her first EP – at the age of 74.

Rickki Rainbow, from West Farleigh, has just completed her Streets of London CD.

The recording features five songs, including a cover of Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven and Katie Melua's Closest Thing to Crazy.

A pound from every copy sold will be donated to the Heart of Kent Hospice.

Rickki, whose real name is June Ethel Richards, said: "I have wanted to do this for a long time, but other things have always got in the way.

"I like to help charities and that was my main aim when I set out. Recording has been difficult but it was a good challenge and the hospice is such a wonderful cause.

"I love to express my individuality, being just like everyone else would be boring. I have to keep myself busy and I always have a project to keep me going."

The grandmother of two teenagers is driven by a love for life that has seen her overcome cancer, run two marathons – winning once – and manage a vintage clothes stall at two of London's biggest markets for 45 years.

Twice a week, Rickki works 16-hour days on her market stalls. She sets up camp in Portobello Market at 4am every Saturday and does not return home until 8pm.

On Mondays, she arrives at Covent Garden at 3am but - despite the long hours - still finds time to wow crowds by street dancing or randomly breaking into song.

Although she has always been a free spirit, inspired by the Celtic heritage she was surrounded by while growing up in Cornwall, Rickki overcame a life-threatening condition almost 25 years ago.

She was given five years to live in 1989 after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but took that as a message to get on with life.

Illness struck again in 2008 when she suffered acute pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.

Yet again Rickki overcame her problems and managed to win the London Marathon's over-70s category two years later.

She completed the 26.2 mile run through London in four hours, a time that could easily humble a fit young person, and shared her sponsorship money between Great Ormond Street Hospital and Penny Brohn Cancer Care, a charity based in Bristol.

Rickki's CDs are available for £6 at her market stall, or £7.50, including postage, from her website www.rickkirainbow.co.uk.

Rickki added: "I am hoping to do a live video and I'm working on creating a YouTube channel but I'm still trying to get to grips with the technology."