An art exhibition of paintings highlighting breast cancer at The Harlequin shopping centre in Watford has been hailed a success by its organisers.

The display, called Paint it Pink, featured work by television soap actresses Madeline Duggan and Lacey Turner, John Lewis designer Kate Leach and students at West Herts College.

The show raised more than £500 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a charity dedicated to the prevention, treatment and ultimate eradication of breast cancer.

Marketing manager for The Harlequin Chrissy Dawson said: “The exhibition at The Harlequin has been a huge success and we’re very pleased with the response we’ve had from shoppers.

“We decided to open the space to would-be artists in order to raise awareness of breast cancer and the charity.

“A mother called the other day to say how her 16-year-old daughter had decided to examine herself after hearing about the exhibition.

“She told me how her daughter had found a lump.

"Fortunately it wasn’t a cancerous lump, but it really does show that this scheme has helped to raise awareness.”

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, with nearly 46,000 women and about 300 men diagnosed with the disease each year.

Canvases from the Paint it Pink exhibition will be put on show again at West Herts College at the end of the month for a short period of time.

The Harlequin shopping centre will continue to support Breakthrough Breast Cancer with a number of events during the week.

On Tuesday a raffle will be drawn and prizes include a hamper donated by Café Lantico, a Sony walkman donated by John Lewis and a Vodafone 527 donated by Vodafone.

About 500 balloons will be released on Thursday on the roof of The Harlequin to raise further awareness of breast cancer.

To get involved with any of the events telephone customer information on 01923 250292.