THERE was no new ribbon to cut at the launch of a special charity month on Monday - instead a string of old bras was looped across the newly-constructed deck of the Tamar Bridge.
Television personality Julie Skentelbery duly did the honours, and cut the ribbon of bras, which marked the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The Tamar Bridge event was the brainchild of the Cornwall and Devon section of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, which has a shop at Mutley Plain in Plymouth. It is hoped that, nationally, £1.5 million will be raised for research during the month.
The appeal is entitled 'Bras over Britain', and it encourages donations to old bras to be displayed at prominent venues, all in the bid to make the public more aware of breast cancer.
Area fund-raising manager, Dawn Harrison, said asking people to donate their old bras is a very light-hearted way of drawing attention to a serious issue.
Construction workers on the Tamar Bridge Strengthening and Widening project have teamed up with the charity to support the special month.
Dawn added: 'It was wonderful to be on the Tamar Bridge for the launch of our campaign, because the bridge is the main link between the two counties.'
Shirley Smale, the project's public relations officer, said: 'Our workers have voluntarily raised thousands of pounds for local charities since the project began. Many of us have been touched by Breast Cancer in one way or another and we are very happy to help spread this important Breast Cancer Awareness message.'
Unwanted bras can be sent to Imperial Cancer Research Fund-raising centre, Unit 7400, The Quorum, Oxford Business Park North, Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2JZ, or can be taken into the Imperial Cancer Research Fund shop in Plymouth.